Isachne pauciflora

HABIT Annual. Culms prostrate; weak; 10–15 cm long; rooting from lower nodes. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Leaf-sheaths loose; hirsute; with tubercle-based hairs; outer margin hairy. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 1 mm long. Leaf-blades lanceolate, or ovate; 1–1.5 cm long; 4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pilose; with tubercle-based hairs. Leaf-blade margins scabrous. Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; 1.5 cm long; bearing few spikelets. Panicle axis glabrous. Panicle branches stiff; glabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets orbicular; dorsally compressed; 1.8–2 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 ovate; 1.8–2 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels. Lower glume surface hispidulous. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume ovate; 1.8–2 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels. Upper glume surface hispidulous. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 1.5–1.8 mm long; coriaceous; without keel. Lemma surface puberulous. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea coriaceous; 2 -veined.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: eastern Asia. Asia-tropical: Malesia and Papuasia.

NOTES Isachneae. Reeder 1997.

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