Littledalea przevalskyi

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; slender; 25–50 cm long. Culm-internodes smooth; distally glabrous. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1–2.5 mm long. Leaf-blades convolute; 0.8–2.5 mm wide; grey-green. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong, or ovate; loose; 5–15 cm long. Primary panicle branches 2 -nate; bearing 1–2 fertile spikelets on each lower branch. Panicle axis scabrous. Panicle branches capillary; flexuous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 5–11 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 17–30 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 5–9 mm long; 0.5–0.66 length of upper glume; scarious; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 9–14 mm long; 0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 11–18 mm long; 4 mm wide; scarious; keeled; 7 -veined. Lemma surface scaberulous; rough above and on veins. Lemma apex emarginate, or obtuse; muticous, or mucronate, or awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; 0–2.5 mm long overall. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 5.2–6.7 mm long. Ovary with a fleshy appendage above style insertion.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China.

NOTES Bromeae. Fl China 2002.

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