Tripogon debilis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 25–34 cm long. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades involute; 4–11 cm long; 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially; glabrous; hairless except near base.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; drooping; unilateral; 8–15 cm long. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; 1 their length apart.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 6–8 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.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; symmetrical; 2.5–3.5 mm long; 0.66–0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 4–5 mm long; 1.1–1.2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; with scarious margins; 1-keeled. Upper glume apex dentate; 2 -fid.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 3.5–4.5 mm long; membranous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins excurrent. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; straight; 3–4 mm long overall. Palea 2.5–3.5 mm long; 2 -veined. Palea keels wingless; ciliolate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1.3–1.5 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Fl China 2007.

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