Brachyachne tenella

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Stolons present. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 20–40 cm long; without nodal roots, or rooting from lower nodes. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blades 5–10 cm long; 1–2 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 3–6; digitate; unilateral; 4–7 cm long. Rhachis flattened. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; crowded; regular; 2 -rowed.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; compressed strongly; 1.8–2.2 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; with lower wider than upper; exceeding apex of florets; similar to fertile lemma in texture; parallel to lemmas. Lower glume oblong; 1.8–2.2 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scaberulous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume oblong; 1.8–2.2 mm long; 2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scaberulous. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; laterally compressed; 1 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma midvein pubescent. Lemma margins pubescent. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels approximate; pubescent.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.3 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: Malesia and Papuasia. Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Cynodonteae. Tothill.

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