Tripogon karnatakensis Thoiba & Pradeep, Phytotaxa

K., Thoiba, Abstract, A. K. Pradeep & Roem., Tripogon, 2020, A revision of Tripogon (Poaceae: Chloridoideae) in India, Rheedea 30 (3), pp. 325-378 : 348-349

Tripogon karnatakensis Thoiba & Pradeep, Phytotaxa 272(2): 126. 2016. Type: INDIA , Karnataka, Chikmagalur district, Kavikal Gandi hills, 1450 m, 13.09.2014, T. Kottekkattu & M. Yoonus T 137510(holo CAL!;iso CALI[ CALI1112092 !], MH!, K!). FiGS. 21 & 22

Caespitose perennials. Culms 40–60 cm tall, erect, stout, unbranched; nodes glabrous, slightly geniculate. Leaf sheaths 3–8 cm long, closely involute to the culm, persistent, fibrous; ligules narrow membrane, fringed with long hairs at apex, hairs 3–7 mm long; leaf blades 12–23 × 0.4–0.5 cm, flat to convolute, apex acute-acuminate, scabrid, sparsely villous adaxially and glabrous abaxially, margins entire. Racemes 15–28 × 0.5–0.7 cm, 50– 60 spikelets loosely or tightly appressed to concavities in rachis; rachis 3–5 mm long, stout, tri-angular, minutely scabridulose; peduncle 5–10 cm long, stout, glabrous. Spikelets 10–30 × 3–4 mm, linear-lanceolate, leaden green, 7–10-flowered; callus bearded, hairs 1–1.5 mm long; rachilla persistent, 1–1.2 mm long, glabrous, slightly zig-zag; lower glumes 5–7 × 1 mm, oblong-lanceolate, asymmetrical, 2-nerved, 2-keeled, bi-lobed, chartaceous, shortly awned at the apex, awns 1 mm long; upper glumes 6–8 × 0.5–1 mm, symmetrical, elliptic-lanceolate, 1-nerved, 1-keeled, prominentely, scabrid, apex 2-fid, shortly awned from the notch, awns 2.5–3 mm long, scabrid; lemmas 3–3.5 × 1.5–2 mm (excluding awns), narrowly elliptic to ovate-lanceolate, 4-lobed, 3-nerved, 3-awned, lobes acute-acuminate, 1–1.5 mm long, median awn 3.7–4.2 mm long, scabrid, straight or curved, lateral awns 2.5–3 mm long; paleas 2.8–3 × 1.7–2 mm, hyaline, elliptic-lanceolate, keeled and slightly winged, keels minutely ciliolate along margins, sub-acute to deeply notched at apex; lodicules 2, c. 0.5 mm long, wedge-shaped, apex coarsely 3-toothed; stamens 3, anthers 1.5–2 mm long, oblong, filaments 0.5–0.75 mm long, slender, glabrous; ovary 0.25–0.5 mm long, obovate, style 2, 0.75–1mm long, slender, hyaline, stigma 0.75–1mm long, plumose. Caryopses not seen.

Flowering & fruiting: Flowering and fruiting from September to December.

Habitat: It grows on hill tracts among boulders and also along the Ghat road sides at elevations between 1000–1950 m, in association with Eriocaulon spp. ( Eriocaulaceae ), Impatiens spp. ( Balsaminaceae ), Indopoa paupercula , Tripogon bromoides , T. filiformis (all Poaceae ) Cyanotis papilionacea and Murdannia dimorpha G.Brückn. (both Commelinaceae ).

Distribution: Endemic to South India , hitherto known only from the type locality and adjoining areas.

Specimens examined: INDIA , Karnataka, Chikmagalur district, Baba Budan hills, 1560 m, 13.09.2014, K . Thoiba & Mohammed Yoonus 137501; Ibid., 13.09.2014, K . Thoiba & Mohammed Yoonus 137530 ( CALI) .

Notes: Tripogon karnatakensis resembles T. fliformis , but differs in having flat to convolute, sparsely villous and adaxially scabrid leaves, 15–28 cm long stout leaden green racemes, 2-keeled lower glumes and ciliate paleas with a deep apical notch.

Figures

FiG. 21. Tripogon karnatakensis Thoiba & Pradeep: a. Habit; b. Spikelet;c. & d. Lower glume;e. Upper glume;f. Lemma;G.Palea – ventral view; h. Palea – dorsal view; i. LodiCule; j. Stamen & pistil.

FiG. 22. Distribution of Tripogon jaCQuemontii Stapf, T. idukkianus Sunil & Pradeep and T.karnatakensis Thoiba & Pradeep in India [drawn using ESRI (2011) ArCGIS Desktop: Release 10].