Isachne elegans

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms geniculately ascending; 20–30 cm long; 2 mm diam. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades linear, or lanceolate; 5–15 cm long; 4–6 mm wide. Leaf-blade margins cartilaginous. Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 7.5–12.5 cm long. Primary panicle branches 1.3–2.5 cm long. Panicle branches smooth.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels glabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets orbicular; dorsally compressed; 2.5–3 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating above glumes but not between florets.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate, or orbicular; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 7 -veined. Lower glume surface hispidulous. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate, or orbicular; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 7 -veined. Upper glume surface hispidulous. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma orbicular; hemispherical; 2–2.5 mm long; coriaceous; without keel. Lemma surface puberulous. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea coriaceous; 2 -veined.

FLOWER Anthers 1.6 mm long; yellow.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: India and Indo-China.

NOTES Isachneae. Blatt & McCann 1994.

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