Tripogon capillatus

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 10–25 cm long. Culm-nodes glabrous. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blades filiform; involute; 2–10 cm long; 0.5–1 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade surface glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; unilateral; 10–12 cm long. Rhachis angular. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; regular; 2 -rowed.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–4 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 6–8 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus bearded.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 1.5 mm long; 0.66 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 2.5 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex setaceously attenuate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 2–3 mm long; membranous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma apex lobed; 2 -fid; incised 0.33 of lemma length; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; flexuous; 10–25 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.5–1 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: Arabia. Asia-tropical: India.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Nair 1993.

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