Isachne ciliatiflora

HABIT Perennial. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 30–60 cm long; 2 mm diam. Culm-internodes smooth; distally glabrous. Leaf-sheaths mostly shorter than adjacent culm internode; glabrous on surface; outer margin glabrous, or hairy. Leaf-sheath oral hairs lacking, or ciliate. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 1 mm long. Leaf-blade base broadly rounded. Leaf-blades linear, or lanceolate; 5–15 cm long; 5–10 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation with distinct cross veins. Leaf-blade surface smooth; glabrous. Leaf-blade margins cartilaginous; scabrous. Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 15 cm long. Primary panicle branches ascending; 1 -nate; 5–9.5 cm long. Panicle branches eglandular; smooth; glabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; dorsally compressed; 2.5 mm long; 1.3 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 2.3 mm long; 0.9 length of spikelet; membranous; much thinner on margins; without keels; 5–7 -veined. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume ovate; 2.3 mm long; 0.9 length of spikelet; membranous; with hyaline margins; without keels; 5–7 -veined. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile florets bisexual and female; with the lowest dissimilar. Lowest fertile lemma bisexual; elliptic; 2.2 mm long; 1.2 length of adjacent lemma; hairy. Fertile lemma elliptic; 1.8 mm long; cartilaginous; without keel. Lemma margins involute; ciliate. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea cartilaginous. Palea surface glabrous, or pilose; hairy at base. Palea apex undifferentiated, or ciliate.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1.5 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China.

NOTES Isachneae. Keng 1996.

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