Differentiating features of Stipa capillata group in Mongolia
Table of used features in Stipa capillata group (FC: Flora of China Vol. 22, 2006; Grubov: Grubov 1996)
| feature | S. capillata | S. baicalensis | S. sareptana | S. krylovii |
| leaf blades outside | slightly scabrous | glabrous | scabrous | glabrous |
| ligules of leaves on vegetative shoots (mm) | 0.6-2.5 | 0.1-0.5 | „0.1-0.5 after Grubov (in FC 2-10 mm, according to both: basal and calm leaves)“ | 0.3-0.5 |
| ligules of culm leaves (mm); lower ligules shorter than upper ones | 3-10 | 1.5-2 | 5-7 (10) | 2-3 (5) |
| glumes (mm) | 2.5-4.5 | 2.5-3.5 | 1.5-2.5 | 1.5-2.5 |
| lemma (mm) | 10-12 | often 10-11 measured (instead of 12-15 in FC & Grubov) | 9-11 | 9-11.5 |
| pappus (corona) of awn base | missing | present | present | present |
| awn (cm) | 10-19 | 13-18 | 10-15 | 10-15 |
| cm to first bend | 3-10 | 3-4.5 | 1.5-2.5 (3.7) | 1.5-3.0 (3.5) |
In Mongolia 4 species belong to the Stipa capillata group. All have glabrous awns or awns with up to 0.8 mm long hairs only. The differentiating characters are summarized in the table, but a lot of intermediate specimens occur. The determination is also complicated by differences in the delimitation of the species within the relevant floras. Further studies are necessary to clear the taxonomic situation within the group.
data compiled by: S. Rilke