Isachne distichophylla

HABIT Perennial. Culms erect; 60–100 cm long; rooting from lower nodes. Culm-nodes purple. Leaves distichous. Leaf-sheaths 2 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 1.5–2 mm long. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 5–15 cm long; 5–17 mm wide; coriaceous; stiff. Leaf-blade margins cartilaginous; crenate. Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; elliptic, or ovate; (5–)10–20 cm long; 4–10 cm wide. Primary panicle branches spreading. Panicle branches stiff.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets orbicular; dorsally compressed; 1.5–1.8 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes suppressed between florets.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate, or orbicular; 1.5–1.8 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 9–11 -veined. Lower glume surface glabrous, or hispid. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate, or orbicular; 1.5–1.8 mm long; membranous; without keels; 7–11 -veined. Upper glume surface glabrous, or hispid. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate, or orbicular; 1.5–1.8 mm long; coriaceous; without keel. Lemma surface pubescent; hairy at base. Lemma margins involute; pubescent. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea coriaceous; 2 -veined.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ovoid; 1 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Pacific: south-central and north-central.

NOTES Isachneae. Wagner 1993.

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