Miscanthus nepalensis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short. Culms erect; 90–150 cm long. Leaf-sheaths 10–12 cm long; pilose. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blades 30–50 cm long; 6–10 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 10–15; borne along a central axis; closely spaced; 5–10 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 4–8 cm long. Rhachis tough; subterete; glabrous on surface. Rhachis internodes filiform.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled; 2 in the cluster. Pedicels filiform; unequal; 1–2.8 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 2–2.5 mm long; falling entire. Spikelet callus bearded; base truncate. Spikelet callus hairs tawny; 3–4 length of spikelet.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 1 length of spikelet; chartaceous; light brown; without keels. Lower glume surface flat. Lower glume margins ciliate. Lower glume hairs tawny; 4–6 mm long. Lower glume apex emarginate. Upper glume lanceolate; chartaceous; without keels. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret ovate; 1.8 mm long; hyaline; 0 -veined; without midvein; without lateral veins. Fertile lemma lanceolate; 1.8 mm long; hyaline; without keel; 1 -veined. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; 9–13 mm long overall. Palea 0.8 mm long; 0.5 length of lemma; hyaline; 0 -veined; without keels.

FLOWER Anthers 2; 1.4 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China. Asia-tropical: India, Indo-China, and Malesia. Australasia: New Zealand.

NOTES Andropogoneae. Fl Pak 1993.

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