Glyceria chinensis

HABIT Perennial. Culms geniculately ascending; 30–60 cm long; 1.5–2 mm diam.; rooting from lower nodes. Leaf-sheaths tubular for much of their length; with 0.5 of their length closed; longer than adjacent culm internode. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 5–6 mm long. Leaf-blades 6–12 cm long; 2–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; rough adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; linear; 15–19 cm long. Primary panicle branches appressed; 2–3 -nate; simple; 2–5 cm long; bearing 2–3 fertile spikelets on each lower branch.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 6–8 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets linear; laterally compressed; 11–14 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 2 mm long; 0.66 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 3 mm long; 0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 4 mm long; membranous; without keel; 7 -veined. Lemma lateral veins prominent. Lemma surface smooth, or scaberulous; rough on veins. Lemma apex acuminate. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels scaberulous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; united; oblong; fleshy; truncate. Anthers 3; 0.8–1 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China.

NOTES Meliceae. Keng 2000.

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