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GrassBase - The Online World Grass Flora
Descriptions
W.D. Clayton, M. Vorontsova, K.T. Harman & H. Williamson
© Copyright The Board of Trustees, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Lithachne humilis
HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short. Culms 15–27 cm long; 5–6 -noded. Culm-internodes terete; hollow. Culm-nodes with distinct supra-nodal ridge; glabrous. Leaves cauline; 2–4 per branch. Leaf-sheaths ribbed; glabrous on surface. Leaf-sheath oral hairs lacking. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.2 mm long. Leaf-blade base asymmetrical; with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath. Leaf-blades linear, or lanceolate; 3–6 cm long; 4–8 mm wide. Leaf-blade midrib prominent beneath. Leaf-blade surface pubescent; hairy on both sides.
INFLORESCENCE Monoecious; with male and female spikelets in different inflorescences. Inflorescence comprising only a few spikelets; comprising 1 fertile spikelets; axillary; enclosed. Peduncle flattened; 0.8–1 cm long.
Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile. Male spikelets pedicelled.
STERILE SPIKELETS Basal sterile spikelets represented by a single scale (tiny vestige of male spikelet).
FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 7.3–7.7 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident; 1 mm long; truncate.
GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 7.3–7.7 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 7–9 -veined. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume ovate; 7.3–7.7 mm long; 2–2.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 5–7 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.
FLORETS Fertile florets female. Fertile lemma obovate; laterally compressed; gibbous; triangular in profile; 3–3.5 mm long; indurate; pallid; shiny; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex truncate. Palea indurate.
FLOWER Lodicules 3. Anthers 3; basifixed; 4.2–4.7 mm long. Stigmas 2.
FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear; 1 length of caryopsis.
MALE Male inflorescence terminal; unlike female; of few spikelets (2–6). Male spikelets distinct from female; 1 flowered; linear, or lanceolate; 6 mm long. Male spikelet glumes absent. Male spikelet lemma 3 -veined; awned.
DISTRIBUTION South America: Mesoamericana.
NOTES Olyreae. Soderstrom.
Please cite this publication as detailed in How to Cite Version: 3rd February 2016.
