Oplismenus fujianensis

HABIT Perennial. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; robust; 40–50 cm long. Leaf-sheaths subequal to internodes; pilose; with tubercle-based hairs. Ligule a ciliate membrane. Leaf-blade base cordate, or amplexicaul; asymmetrical. Leaf-blades lanceolate, or ovate; 5–10 cm long; 15–25 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pubescent; densely hairy; hairy on both sides. Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 4–12; borne along a central axis; unilateral; 2–5 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 10–15 cm long; pilose. Rhachis angular. Spikelet packing regular; 2 -rowed.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets sessile and pedicelled; 2 in the cluster; subequal, or the lower smaller.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate, or ovate; laterally compressed; 2.5–5 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 1 length of upper glume; 0.5–0.66 length of spikelet; herbaceous; 1-keeled; 3–5 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; herbaceous; 1-keeled. Upper glume apex obtuse; awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 0.5 mm long.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 1-keeled; 7–9 -veined. Fertile lemma oblong; dorsally compressed; 2–2.5 mm long; coriaceous; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute; laterally pinched. Palea involute; coriaceous; without keels.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China.

NOTES Paniceae. Chen & Jin 2006.

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