Colpodium himalaicum

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths thickened and forming a bulb; persistent and investing base of culm; with fibrous dead sheaths. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 5–30 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1.5–3 mm long. Leaf-blades conduplicate; 1–10 cm long; 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade apex obtuse.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; 2.5–4 cm long; 0.2–0.5 cm wide.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1–2 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 3–4 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus glabrous.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; similar to fertile lemma in texture; gaping. Lower glume elliptic; 1.1–1.7 mm long; 0.66 length of upper glume; membranous; much thinner above; much thinner on margins; 1-keeled; keeled below; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume elliptic, or ovate; 1.6–2.4 mm long; 0.66 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; much thinner above; with hyaline margins; 1-keeled; keeled below; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 2.5–4 mm long; membranous; much thinner above; purple and light brown; keeled; keeled below. Lemma lateral veins less than two thirds length of lemma. Lemma surface pubescent; hairy on veins. Lemma apex erose; obtuse. Palea keels smooth; eciliate.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1.5–3 mm long.

FRUIT Hilum elliptic.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: western Asia. Asia-tropical: India.

NOTES Poeae. Fl Pak 1993.

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