Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum

Plant Identification => Plant Identification Questions and Answers => Topic started by: basia_k on July 20, 2007, 09:21:31 AM

Title: Grasses (Stipa)
Post by: basia_k on July 20, 2007, 09:21:31 AM: Hi, I have a problem with differentiating between two stipas growing in a friend's garden. She claims that one is Stipa capillata and the other Stipa gigantea. Her capillata is said to have very twisting awns, is that a significant characteristic of the species? It is at present 80 cm high. And her gigantea is 140 cm high with supposedly wider leaves than capillata. I enclose 3 pictures of would-be capillata and 2 of would-be gigantea. Do please help!

Regards, Barbara.

Capillata(possibly)
(http://img77.imageshack.us/img77/9046/tbstipacapillata21807cp7.jpg)
(http://img406.imageshack.us/img406/11/tbstipacapillata31807hf9.jpg)
(http://img406.imageshack.us/img406/3296/tbstipacapillata1907wg8.jpg)

Gigantea (doubtful)
(http://img410.imageshack.us/img410/7315/tbstipagigantea21807qz8.jpg)

(http://img406.imageshack.us/img406/3960/tbstipagigantea1807id7.jpg)
Title: Re: Grasses (Stipa)
Post by: Maggi Young on July 20, 2007, 10:06:52 AM: Hello, Barbara, welcome to the Forum.
Since my ignorance of grasses is even greater than my ignorance of ferns, I cannot assist you... there will be others here who can, thankfully!
Title: Re: Grasses (Stipa)
Post by: admin on July 20, 2007, 10:24:20 AM: Quote from: Maggi Young on July 20, 2007, 10:06:52 AM
Hello, Barbara, welcome to the Forum.
Since my ignorance of grasses is even greater than my ignorance of ferns, I cannot assist you... there will be others here who can, thankfully!

Back in the early 70s many of us were well aquatinted with grass. Nowadays we are old and boring and just cut it when we must ;)
Title: Re: Grasses (Stipa)
Post by: Maggi Young on July 20, 2007, 10:28:08 AM: Back in the early seventies I was very busy with aquatints, and etchings and lithographs.... wish I'd known you then, Fred!

I am very "off" grasses at the moment, since the wee dog had her horrible injury on a cut stem of a Miscanthus.....sharp as a knife, nasty thing!
Title: Re: Grasses (Stipa)
Post by: mark smyth on July 20, 2007, 12:05:28 PM: I dont think any of them is Stipa gigantea
Title: Re: Grasses (Stipa)
Post by: mark smyth on July 20, 2007, 08:16:00 PM: just for you, Barbara, here are photos I took today in a friend's garden
Title: Re: Grasses (Stipa)
Post by: mark smyth on July 20, 2007, 08:18:56 PM: I think the grasses shown are Carex 'Frosted Curls' and Stipa tenuifolia/tenuissima
Title: Re: Grasses (Stipa)
Post by: basia_k on July 20, 2007, 10:48:28 PM: Quote from: mark smyth on July 20, 2007, 08:18:56 PM
I think the grasses shown are Carex 'Frosted Curls' and Stipa tenuifolia/tenuissima

Well, no :) I grow both of these, being a novice grass collector, and you cannot admire the panicles of Frosted Curls or Stipa tenuissima at four feet off the ground ;D

Regards, Barbara.
Title: Re: Grasses (Stipa)
Post by: basia_k on July 20, 2007, 10:52:40 PM: Quote from: mark smyth on July 20, 2007, 08:16:00 PM
just for you, Barbara, here are photos I took today in a friend's garden

The flowers (spikelets, glumes and all the rest of it) are definitely more like my notion of Stipa gigantea - more gigantic :) and not as hairy as in pictures sent by me. Thank you Mark, this is one step forward!

Regards, Barbara.
Title: Re: Grasses (Stipa)
Post by: mark smyth on July 20, 2007, 11:24:02 PM: can you show us whole plants rather than flower and leaf tips, please
Title: Re: Grasses (Stipa)
Post by: basia_k on July 20, 2007, 11:33:18 PM: Quote from: mark smyth on July 20, 2007, 11:24:02 PM
can you show us whole plants rather than flower and leaf tips, please

In a couple of days - I have asked my friend for the photos. So a little patience, please :)

Regards, Barbara.