Isachne saxicola

HABIT Perennial; cushion forming. Culms erect; 20–45 cm long; rooting from lower nodes. Lateral branches ample. Leaf-sheaths 1.5–2 cm long; longer than adjacent culm internode; glabrous on surface, or pilose; with tubercle-based hairs; outer margin hairy. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 2–4 cm long; 4–9 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade surface ribbed; glabrous, or pubescent. Leaf-blade margins ciliate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 6 cm long; 3 cm wide.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets orbicular; dorsally compressed; 2.4 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes definite; 0.2 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 2.2 mm long; 0.9 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Lower glume surface glabrous, or puberulous; hairy above. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 2.4 mm long; 1.7 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume surface pubescent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile florets with the lowest dissimilar. Lowest fertile lemma 1.1–1.2 length of adjacent lemma. Fertile lemma ovate; 1.4 mm long; coriaceous; yellow; without keel. Lemma surface puberulous. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea coriaceous; 2 -veined.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.8 mm long; yellow.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; 1 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: Malesia.

NOTES Isachneae. Gilliland 1993.

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