Colpodium wallichii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths persistent and investing base of culm; with fibrous dead sheaths. Culms 10–35 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 2–6 cm long; 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade apex abruptly acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; linear; 3–7 cm long; bearing few spikelets. Primary panicle branches indistinct the panicle almost racemose.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform; 3–9 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 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; reaching apex of florets; similar to fertile lemma in texture; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate; 3–4 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; much thinner above; much thinner on margins; purple; 1-keeled; keeled below; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic; 3–4 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; much thinner above; with hyaline margins; purple; 1-keeled; keeled below; 3 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins all falling short of apex. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 3–4 mm long; membranous; much thinner above; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins less than two thirds length of lemma. Lemma apex erose; obtuse. Palea keels smooth; eciliate.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 2 mm long; purple.

FRUIT Hilum elliptic.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: India.

NOTES Poeae. WDC 1993.

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