Colpodium tibeticum

HABIT Perennial. Culms erect; 10–20 cm long; 2–3 -noded. Culm-nodes glabrous. Leaf-sheaths keeled; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 4–6 mm long; acute. Leaf-blades erect; flat, or conduplicate; 4–7 cm long; 2–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade margins smooth.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong, or pyramidal; 3–7 cm long; 1–3 cm wide. Primary panicle branches reflexed; 2 -nate; 1–1.5 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 5–6 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus glabrous.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; similar to fertile lemma in texture; gaping. Lower glume oblong; 5–6 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; much thinner above; much thinner on margins; purple; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume oblong; 5–6 mm long; 1.2–1.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; with hyaline margins; purple; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 4 mm long; hyaline; purple; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins prominent; less than two thirds length of lemma. Lemma surface pilose; hairy below; hairy on veins. Lemma hairs white, or yellow. Lemma apex erose; obtuse. Palea 1.2 length of lemma. Palea keels ciliolate.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; 1 mm long; membranous. Anthers 3; 2.75–3 mm long.

FRUIT Hilum elliptic.

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

NOTES Poeae. Bor 1992.

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