Lophatherum sinense

HABIT Perennial. Roots bearing tubers. Culms 80–100 cm long. Ligule absent. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 12–40 cm long; 15–36 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation with distinct cross veins. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 6–9; borne along a central axis; unilateral; 1–5 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 18–25 cm long. Rhachis angular. Spikelet packing crowded.

Spikelets ascending; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; 6–10 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 3–5 mm long; 0.66–0.75 length of upper glume; herbaceous; 1-keeled; 5 -veined. Lower glume surface pilose; hairy above. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume ovate; 5–7 mm long; 0.7–0.8 length of adjacent fertile lemma; herbaceous; 1-keeled; 7 -veined. Upper glume surface pilose; hairy above. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 5–11 mm long; herbaceous; keeled; 7 -veined. Lemma surface pilose; hairy above. Lemma apex acute; mucronate. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels scaberulous. Palea apex dentate. Apical sterile florets 5–6 in number; barren; in a clump; elliptic; 4 mm long. Apical sterile lemmas awned; 1 -awned. Apical sterile lemma awns 2 mm long.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China and eastern Asia.

NOTES Centotheceae. WDC.

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