Helictotrichon uniyalii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; slender; 40–60 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1 mm long. Leaf-blades conduplicate; 15–23 cm long; 2 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; lanceolate; nodding; 8–15 cm long; 1–2 cm wide. Primary panicle branches ascending.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 6–7 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes pilose.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume linear, or lanceolate; 6–6.5 mm long; 0.9 length of upper glume; membranous; much thinner on margins; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute; mucronate. Upper glume lanceolate; 6.5–6.8 mm long; 1.1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scabrous. Upper glume apex acute; mucronate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 6–6.5 mm long; cartilaginous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; arising 0.5 way up back of lemma; 7–8 mm long overall; with twisted column. Palea linear; 5–5.5 mm long. Palea keels scabrous. Apical sterile florets rudimentary.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 2 mm long. Ovary pubescent on apex.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: India.

NOTES Aveneae. Kandwal & Gupta 2011.

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