Lycochloa

HABIT Perennial. Culms 30–50 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes single; unilateral; bearing few fertile spikelets; bearing 3–8 fertile spikelets on each. Spikelet packing distant.

Spikelets deflexed; solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels cuneate.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 15–20 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating above glumes but not between florets. Rhachilla internodes definite; pilose. Floret callus pilose.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate; 0.66–0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 5 -veined. Lower glume surface without pits. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 0.9–1.1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 5 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; chartaceous; keeled; wingless; 11 -veined. Lemma lateral veins ribbed. Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; curved. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels winged; ciliolate. Apical sterile florets 1–3 in number; barren; in a clump; lanceolate. Apical sterile lemmas awned.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; united; fleshy; truncate. Anthers 3.

DISTRIBUTION Temperate Asia.

Please cite this publication as detailed in How to Cite Version: 3rd February 2016.