Acroceras diffusum

HABIT Perennial. Culms decumbent; 60–100 cm long; rooting from lower nodes. Culm-nodes glabrous. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blades linear, or lanceolate; 5–20 cm long; 5–20 mm wide. Leaf-blade margins scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle 15–20 cm long. Primary panicle branches ascending; sparsely divided.

Spikelets ascending; solitary, or in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels linear; angular; unequal.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; 3.2 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.66 length of spikelet; herbaceous; without keels; 5–7 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 3.2 mm long; 1 length of spikelet; herbaceous; 9–11 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; ovate; 1 length of spikelet; herbaceous; 11 -veined; ciliolate on margins; acute. Palea of lower sterile floret membranous; pilose; adorned on keels. Fertile lemma elliptic; dorsally compressed; 3.2 mm long; coriaceous. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute; pubescent. Palea coriaceous; 2 -veined. Palea apex pubescent.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; veined. Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum punctiform. Disseminule comprising a spikelet.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China.

NOTES Paniceae. Fl Hainan 1996.

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