Isachne carolinensis

HABIT Annual. Culms prostrate; 15–20 cm long. Culm-nodes pubescent. Lateral branches ample. Leaf-sheaths outer margin hairy. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 2 mm long. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 4–5 cm long; 5–8 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pilose; sparsely hairy; hairy on both sides; with tubercle-based hairs. Leaf-blade margins unthickened. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 3–5 cm long. Primary panicle branches ascending; bearing 3–10 fertile spikelets on each lower branch. Panicle branches smooth; with scattered hairs.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; dorsally compressed; 2 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 2 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 7 -veined. Lower glume surface hispid. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume ovate; 2 mm long; 1.1–1.3 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 7 -veined. Upper glume surface hispid. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic, or ovate; 1.5–1.8 mm long; coriaceous; without keel. Lemma margins involute; eciliate. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea coriaceous; 2 -veined.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: Papuasia. Pacific: northwestern.

NOTES Isachneae. Ohwi 1997.

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