Stenotaphrum helferi

HABIT Perennial; mat forming. Stolons present. Basal innovations flabellate. Culms 10–30 cm long. Leaf-sheaths keeled. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades lanceolate; conduplicate; 10–20 cm long; 2–10 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex abruptly acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 8–10; borne along a central axis; in a unilateral false spike; appressed; unilateral; 1–1.5 cm long; bearing few fertile spikelets; bearing 4–8 fertile spikelets on each. Central inflorescence axis 10–15 cm long; foliaceous (with shallow pockets); tough; tip with blunt extension. Rhachis broadly winged; with sharp-edged midrib; 1.5 mm wide; terminating in a barren extension; extension flattened. Spikelet packing abaxial; regular; 2 -rowed.

Spikelets appressed; solitary, or in pairs. Fertile spikelets sessile, or sessile and pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; dorsally compressed; acute; 4–4.5 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 2–3 mm long; 0.5–0.75 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5–7 -veined. Lower glume apex obtuse, or acute. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 7–9 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5–7 -veined; acute. Fertile lemma ovate; 3–3.5 mm long; indurate; without keel; 3–5 -veined. Lemma margins flat. Lemma apex rostrate. Palea reflexed at apex; indurate. Palea apex acuminate.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China. Asia-tropical: Indo-China and Malesia.

NOTES Paniceae. Sauer.

ADDITIONAL CHARACTERS Back of inflorescence axis entire.

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