Muhlenbergia himalayensis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped loosely. Rootstock evident. Rhizomes absent. Stolons present. Culms erect, or decumbent, or prostrate; 35–80 cm long; rooting from lower nodes. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1 mm long; obtuse. Leaf-blades 5–25 cm long; 1.5–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; lanceolate, or elliptic; nodding; 10–25 cm long; contracted about primary branches. Panicle branches flexuous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 3–4 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; similar to fertile lemma in texture. Lower glume lanceolate, or elliptic; 2.5–3.4 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate, or elliptic; 2.5–3.4 mm long; 0.75–0.8 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 3–4 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent; hairy at base. Lemma apex emarginate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 8–18 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: western Asia and China. Asia-tropical: India.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Fl Pak.

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