Tripogon purpurascens

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths persistent and investing base of culm; with compacted dead sheaths. Culms erect; 9–50 cm long. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blades filiform; convolute; 5–15 cm long; 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pilose; hairy adaxially. Leaf-blade margins ciliate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; linear; straight, or arcuate; unilateral; 3–17 cm long. Rhachis angular. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; regular; 2 -rowed.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–5(–8) fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 3.5–7.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes glabrous. Floret callus bearded.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume linear; 1.5–2.5(–3) mm long; 0.5–0.6 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; (2.2–)2.6–4.5 mm long; 1.1–1.3 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 2–4 mm long; membranous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins excurrent, or extending close to apex. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; truncate; mucronate. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels winged; narrowly winged; ciliolate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: western Asia, Arabia, China, and Mongolia. Asia-tropical: India.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Launert.

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