Hymenachne patens

HABIT Perennial. Culms decumbent; 50 cm long; 4–5 -noded; rooting from lower nodes. Culm-nodes bearded. Leaf-sheaths mostly shorter than adjacent culm internode. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 5 mm long. Leaf-blade base amplexicaul. Leaf-blades linear, or lanceolate; 19–26 cm long; 5–10 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong; 15–20 cm long; 5 cm wide; contracted about secondary branches. Primary panicle branches spreading; 5–12 cm long; bearing spikelets almost to the base.

Spikelets appressed; in pairs, or in threes. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels linear; 2–3 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; acute; 3.2–4 mm long; 1 mm wide; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.33–0.5 length of spikelet; hyaline; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 3–3.7 mm long; 0.9 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; lanceolate; 3.2–4 mm long; 1 length of spikelet; chartaceous; much thinner on margins; 5 -veined; acute. Fertile lemma ovate; 3 mm long; cartilaginous; much thinner on margins; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute. Palea cartilaginous.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; oblong; 2 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China.

NOTES Paniceae. Liou 1996.

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