Coelachne perpusilla

HABIT Annual; mat forming. Culms prostrate; weak; 8–30 cm long; rooting from lower nodes. Culm-nodes bearded. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades linear, or lanceolate; 0.8–2.5 cm long; 1–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pubescent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong; 1–6 cm long. Primary panicle branches spreading; simple; 0.6–1.2 cm long; bearing 1–3 fertile spikelets on each lower branch; bearing spikelets almost to the base.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels linear; 1–2.5 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 2.5–3 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 1.2–1.5 mm long; 0.8 length of upper glume; 0.5 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 1–3 -veined. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume ovate; 1.2–1.5 mm long; 0.5 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile florets female (upper); with the lowest dissimilar. Lowest fertile lemma bisexual; ovate; 1.1 length of adjacent lemma; firmer than adjacent lemma; hairy (below). Fertile lemma ovate; 2 mm long; membranous; without keel; 3–5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins obscure. Lemma surface pubescent; hairy below. Lemma margins ciliolate. Lemma apex acute. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined.

FLOWER Anthers 1.2–1.3 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; oblong, or ovoid; 0.7–0.9 mm long. Embryo 0.33 length of caryopsis. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: India and Indo-China.

NOTES Isachneae. Fl Ceyl 1993.

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