Tripogon trifidus

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths persistent and investing base of culm; with compacted dead sheaths. Culms 20–45 cm long. Leaf-sheaths ribbed; smooth; glabrous on surface. Leaf-sheath oral hairs bearded. Ligule a ciliate membrane. Leaf-blades filiform; involute; 15–25 cm long; 1–2 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade apex attenuate; filiform.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; unilateral; 5–30 cm long. Rhachis angular. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; regular; 2 -rowed.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 6–10 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; 4–10 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus bearded.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; asymmetrical; 1.5–2 mm long; 0.33 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex with a unilateral tooth; acuminate to setaceously attenuate. Upper glume lanceolate; 4.5–5.5 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex dentate; 2 -fid; acuminate; awned; 1 -awned.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 4.5–5 mm long; membranous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma apex lobed; 2 -fid; awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; 8–10 mm long overall. Lateral lemma awns arising on apex of lobes. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1.3 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

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

NOTES Eragrostideae. Fl Assam 1993.

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