Lophatherum gracile

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Roots bearing tubers. Culms 50–100 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blade base with a false petiole. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 10–20 cm long; 20–50 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation with distinct cross veins.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes borne along a central axis; unilateral; 3–10 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 5–30 cm long. Rhachis angular; puberulous on surface. Spikelet packing contiguous, or lax.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 8–9 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes similar; shorter than spikelet; similar to fertile lemma in texture. Lower glume oblong; 4 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; herbaceous; 1-keeled; 5 -veined. Lower glume surface glabrous, or pilose; hairy above. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume oblong; 5.5 mm long; 0.8 length of adjacent fertile lemma; herbaceous; 1-keeled; 5 -veined. Upper glume surface glabrous, or pilose; hairy above. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 6.5 mm long; herbaceous; keeled; 7 -veined. Lemma apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 1–1.5 mm long overall; limb retrorsely scabrous. Palea oblanceolate; 2 -veined. Palea keels winged. Palea apex dentate. Apical sterile florets 6–12 in number; barren; in a clump; elliptic; 2.5 mm long. Apical sterile lemmas awned; 1 -awned. Apical sterile lemma awns 1.5 mm long; retrorsely scabrous.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate. Anthers 2; 1.5 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China and eastern Asia. Asia-tropical: India, Indo-China, Malesia, and Papuasia. Australasia: Australia. Pacific: south-central and northwestern.

NOTES Centotheceae. WDC.

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