Isachne hainanensis

HABIT Annual. Culms prostrate; slender; 40–50 cm long; rooting from lower nodes. Leaf-sheaths 3–5 cm long; mostly shorter than adjacent culm internode; puberulous; with tubercle-based hairs. Ligule absent. Leaf-blade base broadly rounded. Leaf-blades elliptic, or ovate; 8–15 cm long; 5–10 mm wide; flaccid. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pilose; hairy on both sides; with tubercle-based hairs. Leaf-blade margins cartilaginous; tuberculate-ciliate; hairy at base. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; terminal and axillary; exserted, or embraced at base by subtending leaf. Peduncle 5–15 cm long.

Panicle open; ovate; 15–25 cm long; 5–10 cm wide. Primary panicle branches ascending; 1–2 -nate. Panicle branches eglandular; pubescent.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; dorsally compressed; 1.8 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes elongated below proximal fertile floret. Rhachilla elongation 0.4 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 1.5 mm long; 0.8 length of spikelet; herbaceous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume lanceolate; 1.5 mm long; 0.8 length of spikelet; herbaceous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male. Lemma of lower sterile floret oblong; 1.8 mm long; 1.5 length of fertile lemma; membranous. Fertile lemma orbicular; hemispherical; 1.2 mm long; cartilaginous; without keel. Lemma surface puberulous. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea cartilaginous.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1.5 mm long; brown.

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.