Tripogon filiformis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 25–50 cm long. Lateral branches lacking. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blades filiform; convolute; 5–17 cm long; 1 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; erect; straight, or flexuous; unilateral; 5–23 cm long. Rhachis angular. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; regular; 2 -rowed.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 5–8 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic, or oblong; laterally compressed; 3.7–10 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes glabrous. Floret callus bearded.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; parallel to lemmas. Lower glume lanceolate; symmetrical, or asymmetrical; 1.6–2.3 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume lanceolate; (2.5–)3–4.5 mm long; 1.2–1.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex emarginate, or obtuse; mucronate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate, or elliptic; (1.5–)2–3.5 mm long; membranous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma apex dentate; 4 -fid; awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; straight, or curved; 4–10 mm long overall. Lateral lemma awns arising on apex of lobes; 1–3 mm long. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

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

NOTES Eragrostideae. Fl Pak 1993.

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