Harpachne harpachnoides

HABIT Perennial. Culms 13–25 cm long; 3 -noded. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface; outer margin hairy. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 3–7 cm long; 1–2.5 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade venation distinct. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; linear; multilateral; 4–7 cm long. Spikelet packing crowded.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform; flexuous; 3 mm long; pubescent; tip widened.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 8 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 5–7 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with the pedicel. Rhachilla internodes glabrous.

GLUMES Glumes similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume oblong; 2 mm long; 0.66 length of upper glume; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume oblong; 3 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scabrous. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile florets increasing in size upwards. Fertile lemma ovate; 2.5–3 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma midvein scabrous. Lemma lateral veins prominent. Lemma margins ciliolate; hairy below. Lemma apex acuminate. Palea bowed outwards; 0.66 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels winged; with erose wings. Palea apex obtuse. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Hack 1996.

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