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.

Microstegium multiciliatum

HABIT Perennial. Culms prostrate; robust; 50–120 cm long; rooting from lower nodes. Culm-internodes distally pilose. Culm-nodes pubescent. Leaf-sheaths hispid; with tubercle-based hairs. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1.5–2 mm long. Leaf-blades elliptic, or oblong; 23–25 cm long; 20–25 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pilose; sparsely hairy; hairy on both sides; with tubercle-based hairs. Leaf-blade apex attenuate; filiform.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 10; digitate; 9–12 cm long. Rhachis fragile at the nodes; angular; ciliate on margins. Rhachis internodes linear; 0.8–1 length of fertile spikelet. Rhachis internode tip clavate.

Spikelets appressed; in pairs. Fertile spikelets sessile and pedicelled; 2 in the cluster. Pedicels linear.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; dorsally compressed; 4.5–5 mm long; falling entire; deciduous from the base, or with accessory branch structures. Spikelet callus bearded; base obtuse; attached transversely. Spikelet callus hairs 1–1.5 mm long; 0.25–0.5 length of spikelet.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblong; 1 length of spikelet; coriaceous; 2-keeled; keeled obtusely. Lower glume primary vein pectinately ciliate. Lower glume intercarinal veins distinct; 2 in number. Lower glume surface with a longitudinal median groove; asperulous; rough at apex. Lower glume apex entire. Upper glume elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; with hyaline margins; 1-keeled. Upper glume primary vein ciliate. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret 0–1 mm long; hyaline. Fertile lemma orbicular; 0.8–1 mm long; hyaline; without keel; 0 -veined. Lemma margins ciliolate; hairy above. Lemma apex lobed; 2 -fid; with lanceolate lobes; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; geniculate; 10–12 mm long overall; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn glabrous. Palea oblong; 1.5 mm long; hyaline; without keels. Palea apex dentate; 3 -fid; ciliate.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 3–3.5 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China.

NOTES Andropogoneae. Fl China 2004.

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