Isachne gracilis

HABIT Annual. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; slender; 5–25 cm long. Culm-nodes glabrous. Ligule an eciliate membrane, or absent. Leaf-blades lanceolate, or elliptic, or oblong; 1–3 cm long; 2–15 mm wide; membranous. Leaf-blade surface hirsute; sparsely hairy.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 1–10 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets orbicular; dorsally compressed; 0.5–1 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblong; 0.2–0.5 mm long; 0.5 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5–7 -veined. Lower glume surface pubescent. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume oblong; 0.5–1 mm long; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 7–9 -veined. Upper glume surface pubescent. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile florets with the lowest dissimilar. Lowest fertile lemma oblong; 0.5–1 mm long; 1–2 length of adjacent lemma; thinner than adjacent lemma. Fertile lemma orbicular, or obovate; 0.5 mm long; coriaceous; without keel. Lemma surface pubescent. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea coriaceous; 2 -veined. Palea surface pubescent.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: India.

NOTES Isachneae. Nair 1993.

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