Stipa balansae H. Scholz

Stipa balansae H. Scholz (Figure 58 (2)). Lemma dorsal surface: Characterised by rectangular long cells of (20–)30–45(–54) × (4–)5–7(–9) µm, smooth walls, up to 3 µm thick, linear distribution. Short cells: main Silica cells of 8–12 × 5–10 µm, circular to reniform, occasionally oblong, sporadic and always in pairs or threes with a hook, occasionally with a cork cell, situated between long cells, never solitary; Cork cells 5–8(–9) × 5–9 µm, reniform, sporadic, always with a silica cell. Spines and hairs: Hooks reniform to occasionally circular base (7–)10–20(–27) × 4–7(–9) µm high, regularly distributed between long cells, in pairs or threes with silica, cork or additional hook cells, more frequently solitary, density 10–14 hooks/100 µm 2; Macro-hairs 400–600(–750) µm long, circular base 8–21(–24) µm, regularly distributed in lines from mid-dorsal area to base of lemma. Lemma apical surface: Characterised by long cells similar to those of the dorsal area, slightly shorter up to 50 µm. Short cells: Silica cells of 8–14 × 6–12 µm, more frequent and of similar morphology to the dorsal; Cork cells absent. Spines and hairs: Hooks circular to reniform base (5–)10–27(–35) × 10–25 µm, denser than in dorsal area 16–20 hooks/100 µm 2; Prickles circular base 25–35 µm and up to 150 µm long, distributed in middle of apex, density 2–8/100 µm 2; Macro-hairs of circular base 28–37(–41) µm and up to 370 µm long, located at distal part of apex. Material studied: Morocco: Debdou, -306636/ 3386655, 1530 m.s.a.l., 4-VI-2018, M. Chambouleyron (ECWP s.n. (HSSrf 150)); Maatarka, 0551262/ 3629341, 1390 m.s.a.l., 13-V-2015, M. Chambouleyron (ECWP s.n. (HSSrf 214)).