Microchloa indica

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Butt sheaths withering. Culms erect; 5–50 cm long; wiry; 2–8 -noded. Leaves mostly basal. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blades filiform, or linear; flat, or conduplicate; 1–8(–11) cm long; 0.3–1.75 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex abruptly acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; arcuate; unilateral; 1.4–15 cm long. Rhachis semiterete; 0.6–0.9(–1.1) mm wide. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; regular; 1 -rowed.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; compressed slightly; 1.7–2.9 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma; parallel to lemmas. Lower glume elliptic; 1.7–2.9 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic; 1.7–2.9 mm long; 1.2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; hyaline; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma margins ciliate. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea 2 -veined.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.3–0.7 mm long. Stigmas 2.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid; 0.9 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: west tropical, west-central tropical, northeast tropical, east tropical, southern tropical, and south. Asia-temperate: China. Asia-tropical: India, Indo-China, and Malesia. Australasia: Australia. South America: Mesoamericana, western South America, Brazil, and southern South America.

NOTES Cynodonteae. FTEA.

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