Isachne diabolica

HABIT Perennial. Culms robust; 50–70 cm long; 3–4 mm diam. Culm-internodes smooth; distally glabrous. Lateral branches ample. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 3–5 mm long. Leaf-blade base amplexicaul. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 12–15 cm long; 18–23 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 15–20 cm long. Primary panicle branches spreading. Panicle axis glandular; scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets orbicular; dorsally compressed; 2 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume orbicular; 1.7–1.8 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; 0.9 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 7 -veined. Lower glume surface glabrous. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume ovate; 1.7–1.8 mm long; 0.9 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 7 -veined. Upper glume surface glabrous. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile florets with the lowest dissimilar. Lowest fertile lemma elliptic; 2 mm long; glabrous. Fertile lemma orbicular; 1.5 mm long; coriaceous; without keel. Lemma surface puberulous. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea coriaceous.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: Malesia.

NOTES Isachneae. Ohwi 2001.

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