Tripogon mahendragiriensis Chorghe, Sang.Dey, K.Prasad, Prasanna & Y.V.Rao, Nord. J. Bot.

K., Thoiba, Abstract, A. K. Pradeep & Roem., Tripogon, 2020, A revision of Tripogon (Poaceae: Chloridoideae) in India, Rheedea 30 (3), pp. 325-378 : 353-354

Tripogon mahendragiriensis Chorghe, Sang.Dey, K.Prasad, Prasanna & Y.V.Rao, Nord. J. Bot. 33(6): 655. 2015. Type: INDIA , Odisha, Gajapati district, Mahendragiri hill, N 18̊58'04.3'’, E 084̊21'57.4'’, 1478 m, 17.09.2014, Chorghe & Prasad 4210 (holo BSID!; iso CAL [CAL0000025360!]). FiG. 27

Caespitose perennials. Culms 15–20 cm high, erect; nodes glabrous. Leaf sheaths 3–5 cm long, linear, glabrous; ligules ciliate, cilia 0.5 mm long; leaf blades 4–10 × 0.05 cm, linear, filiform, sparsely covered with white hairs. Racemes 5–10 cm long, spiciform, spikelets loosely arranged in rachis; rachis flat, glabrous; peduncle 7–12 cm long. Spikelets 4.5–5.2 × 1 mm, linear-lanceolate, laterally compressed, 4–5-flowered with reduced florets near apex; lower glumes 2–2.25 × c. 0.50 mm, linear-lanceolate, shallowly lobed on one-side, 1-nerved, 1-keeled, acuminate at apex; upper glumes 3.5–3.7 × c. 0.5 mm, linear-lanceolate, 1-nerved, 1-keeled, acuminate at apex; lemmas 2.8–3.1 × 0.7–0.9 mm, lanceolate, bearded at base, 3-nerved, 1-keeled, unlobed, 3-awned, median awn 1.8–2.2 mm long, shorter than lemma, arising from the median nerve, lateral awns 0.5 mm long; paleas 2.6–2.8 × 0.6 mm, oblanceolate, hyaline, 2-keeled, keels ciliate, acute at apex; stamens 2, anthers 1.3 mm long; ovary 0.4 mm long, styles 2, slender, hyaline, stigma feathery. Caryopses 1.5–1.6 × 0.5–0.6 mm, oblanceolate or oblong-elliptic, light brown.

Flowering & fruiting: Flowering and fruiting in September.

Habitat: It was found growing on rocks above 1400 m elevation associated with Arundinella setosa Trin. , Garnotia tenella Janowski and Jansenella griffithiana (Müll.Hal.) Bor (all Poaceae ).

Distribution: Endemic to India , hitherto known only from the type locality.

Notes: The authors were not able to collect T. mahendragiriensis , and the description provided here is based on the type collection. The species is similar to Tripogon humilis and T. purpurascens , but differs mainly in having longer culms, leaf blades and racemes; lemmas unlobed, 3-awned and two anthers.

Figures

FiG. 27. Distribution of Tripogon lisboae Stapf,T.longearistatus HaCk. ex Honda and T. mahendragiriensis Chorge, Sang.Dey, K.Prasad, Prasanna & Y.V.Rao in India [drawn using ESRI (2011) ArCGIS Desktop: Release 10].