Cleistogenes hackelii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short; knotty. Culms erect; 30–100 cm long; 0.5–1.2 mm diam.; 6–9 -noded. Leaves basal and cauline. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 0.3–0.5 mm long. Leaf-blades 3–15 cm long; 3–10 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 2–3; borne along a central axis; unilateral; 1.5–3.5 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 4–8 cm long. Spikelet packing lax.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels oblong.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–5 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 5–9 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes pubescent; hairy at tip. Floret callus pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; dissimilar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 0.7–2 mm long; 0.5–0.66 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume ovate; 1.5–3 mm long; 0.33–0.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 4–6 mm long; membranous; keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma margins ciliate; hairy below. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; 2–9 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels scabrous. Palea apex entire, or dentate; 2 -fid. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3; 1.5–2 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; lanceolate.

CLEISTOGENES AND VIVIPARY Cleistogenes present; in upper sheaths.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China and eastern Asia.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Koyama.

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