Pseudoraphis sordida

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Stolons present. Culms prostrate; slender; 20–50 cm long. Culm-internodes purple. Culm-nodes glabrous. Leaf-sheaths loose. Ligule a ciliate membrane. Leaf-blades floating; linear; 2–6 cm long; 2–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes; embraced at base by subtending leaf.

Racemes 8–30; borne along a central axis; erect; 1.5–4 cm long; bearing 1(–2) fertile spikelets on each. Central inflorescence axis 3–9 cm long. Rhachis angular; scabrous on margins; terminating in a barren extension; extension bristle-like; extension 8–12 mm long. Spikelet packing abaxial; distant.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; acuminate; 4–6 mm long; falling entire. Spikelet callus oblong.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblate; 0.6–0.8 mm long; 0.1 length of spikelet; hyaline; without keels; 0 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume lanceolate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 7 -veined. Upper glume surface pilose. Upper glume margins spinulose. Upper glume apex acuminate (sharply).

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 7 -veined; acute. Fertile lemma elliptic; 1.3–1.4 mm long; cartilaginous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma margins flat. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea separating from lemma above; 1 length of lemma; cartilaginous; without keels.

FLOWER Anthers 2; 0.6–1.1 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis exposed between gaping lemma and palea at maturity.

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

NOTES Paniceae. Fl China 2000.

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