Isachne obtecta

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 30–45 cm long; 1 mm diam. Culm-nodes glabrous. Lateral branches lacking, or sparse. Leaf-sheaths mostly shorter than adjacent culm internode; glabrous on surface; outer margin hairy. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 2–3 mm long. Leaf-blade base cordate. Leaf-blades linear, or lanceolate; 2–6 cm long; 3–6 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pilose; hairy abaxially, or on both sides. Leaf-blade margins scabrous. Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; lanceolate; 5–8 cm long. Primary panicle branches appressed. Panicle branches stiff; smooth, or scaberulous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels clavate.

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

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume elliptic, or obovate; 1.5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 7 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins obscure. Lower glume surface glabrous. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume elliptic, or obovate; 1.5 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 7 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins obscure. Upper glume surface glabrous. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 1.5 mm long; coriaceous; shiny; without keel. Lemma surface glabrous. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea coriaceous; 2 -veined.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: Papuasia.

NOTES Isachneae. Reeder 1997.

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