Germainia lanipes Hook.f.

Teerawatananon, A., Sungkaew, S., Boontia, V. & Hodkinson, T. R., 2013, A taxonomic revision of Germainia (Andropogoneae: Poaceae) in Thailand, Blumea 57 (3), pp. 221-228 : 225

3. Germainia lanipes Hook.f. — Plate 2

Germainia lanipes Hook.f. (1897) 163. — Type: Helfer s.n. (holo K), Myanmar, Tenasserim.

Perennial. Culms 20– 45(– 60) cm tall, erect, branched; nodes pubescent, sometimes pilose. Leaf­sheaths clasping, 4 –10 cm long, basal sheaths densely covered with white to pale yellow lanate hairs, upper sheath shorter than internodes and sparsely pubescent at base and at throat, to glabrous. Ligule an eciliate membrane, 0.2– 0.5 mm long, basal leaves with a dense row of hairs behind the ligule. Leaf­blades linear, 20– 45 by 0.2 – 0.3 (–0.5) cm, lower surface covered with white wax, margins thick, pilose at base, margins spinulose-scabrous. Racemes 1–2, 1.5 – 2(–3) cm long, elongate, closely appressed, composed of 4–11 sessile and pedicelled spikelets, basal homogamous 2(–3); peduncle 8 –15(– 20) cm long. Sessile spikelets green, oblong, 10–12(–15) by 3 –4 mm; lower glumes coriaceous, oblong, 9 –10(–12) by 1.8 –3.5 mm, pubescent to hirsute at base, muticous, upper margin ciliate, 7–9-nerved, nerves not anastomosing; upper glumes linear-lanceolate, 10–15 by 1– 1.5 mm, 3 – 4-dentate, 3-nerved, pubescent on nerves; lower florets male; lower lemmas linear-lanceolate, 9 –12 mm long, acute, upper margin ciliate, 1-nerved; lower paleas linear-lanceolate, 8 –10 mm long, pubescent on nerves, acute to 3-dentate; upper lemmas linear, 8 –12 mm long, upper part pubescent, aristate; upper paleas similar to the lower one; stamens 2, anthers yellow to reddish purple, 6 –7 mm long. Pedicelled spikelets lanceolate, 5 –7 by 1–1.5 mm, caducous; pedicels 3 –4 mm long, hispid; spikelet callus linear, 1–1.5 mm long, attached obliquely, hairy, hairs 0.5 –1.5 mm long; lower glumes lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate, 6 –7 by 1–1.5 mm, pubescent, obtuse to acute, 3-nerved; upper glumes ovate-lanceolate, 5 –6 by 1–1.5 mm, pubescent, obtuse to acute, 3-nerved; lower florets suppressed; upper lemmas linear, 2– 3 mm long, awns 3 – 5 cm long, columns 2 – 2.5 cm long; upper paleas oblong, 2.8–3.2 mm long, truncate and dentate; styles 2, stigmas white or rufous-red, 6–10 mm long. Caryopsis oblong, c. 3.5 mm long.

Distribution — Thailand (N: Tak; SW: Kanchanaburi, Ratchaburi) and Myanmar (Taninthayi = Tenasserim).

Habitat & Ecology — Open grassy Shorea­Phoenix humilis vegetation areas, dry hillsides in deciduous dipterocarp forests, open sandy soil areas on limestone hills, 150 – 900 m altitude. This species is confined to limestone or rocky areas.

Vernacular name — Ya Da Ru Nee from Phengklai et al. 12559 (BKF).

Specimens examined. Helfer s.n.; Larsen 9134; Phengklai 352; Phengklai et al. 12559; Sirimongkol 148; Teerawatananon & Kritsanachandee 978; Teerawatananon & Sungkaew 677.

Figures

Plate 2 Germainia lanipes Hook.f. a. Habit; b. habit showing young shoot and old stems with dense hairs at base; c. habitats on limestone hill slopes in deciduous dipterocarp forest; d. inflorescence (all: Teerawatananon & Sungkaew 677). — Photos: a. S. Sungkaew; b–d. A. Teerawatananon.