Muhlenbergia japonica

HABIT Perennial; mat forming. Culms decumbent; 15–45 cm long; 1 mm diam.; rooting from lower nodes. Culm-internodes 3–5 cm long. Lateral branches ample. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 0.2–0.5 mm long; truncate. Leaf-blades linear, or lanceolate; 4–15 cm long; 1.5–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough on both sides. Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; lanceolate; dense; 8–15 cm long; 0.8–1.5 cm wide. Primary panicle branches 1 -nate; bearing spikelets almost to the base. Panicle branches capillary; scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels scabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 2.5–3 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 1.5–2 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 1.8–2.2 mm long; 0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scabrous. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 2.5–3 mm long; membranous; grey; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma surface pilose; hairy below. Lemma apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 4–8 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3; 0.6–0.7 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: Soviet far east, China, and eastern Asia.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Koyama 1994.

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