GrassBase - The Online World Grass Flora

Descriptions

W.D. Clayton, M. Vorontsova, K.T. Harman & H. Williamson

© Copyright The Board of Trustees, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Polypogon nilgiricus

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Stolons present. Culms decumbent; 45–90 cm long. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 8–14 mm long; lacerate; acute. Leaf-blades linear, or lanceolate; 5–30 cm long; 6–10 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; rough adaxially. Leaf-blade margins scaberulous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle. Peduncle 10–30 cm long; glabrous.

Panicle open; oblong; dense; 6–13 cm long; 2–6 cm wide. Primary panicle branches whorled at most nodes; 1.5–3.5 cm long. Panicle axis scaberulous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 0.6–0.8 mm long; scabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 1.8–2 mm long; 0.8 mm wide; falling entire; deciduous with the pedicel. Floret callus glabrous.

GLUMES Glumes similar; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma; gaping. Lower glume oblong; 1.8–2 mm long; 0.4 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface scabrous. Lower glume margins ciliolate. Lower glume apex emarginate, or acute; awned; 1 -awned. Lower glume awn 2–3 mm long. Upper glume oblong; 1.8–2 mm long; 1.8–2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scabrous. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume surface scabrous. Upper glume margins ciliolate. Upper glume apex emarginate, or acute; awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 2–3 mm long.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 1 mm long; 0.3 mm wide; membranous, or chartaceous; shiny; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins obscure; excurrent. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid, or 4 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; 1.2–1.4 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma; hyaline; 2 -veined.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; 0.2–0.3 mm long; membranous. Anthers 3; 0.2 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: India.

NOTES Aveneae. Kabeer & Nair 2009.

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