Microstegium borianum, Chen & Veldkamp & Kuoh, 2012

Chen, H., Veldkamp, J. - F. & Kuoh, C. - S., 2012, Taxonomic revision of Microstegium s. str. Andropogoneae, Poaceae), Blumea 57 (2), pp. 160-189 : 185

Microstegium borianum Sur

Microstegium borianum Sur (1982) 652,t. 1. — Type: Deka 15683 (holo CAL) .

Description after the original publication.

Perennials. Culms robust, up to 130 cm long. Nodes pubescent. Sheaths pubescent. Ligule a glabrous membrane, 2–4.5 mm long. Blades lanceolate, 10–25 cm by 15–20 mm, firm, base attenuate to slightly rounded, pseudopetiole absent, apex acute to acuminate, moderately pilose on both sides with tubercle-based hairs. Panicles c. 10 cm long, common axis c. 1 cm long. Racemes 3–4, digitate, ascending, straight, 5–10 cm long. Rachis fragile, internodes long, slender. Sessile spikelets oblong to lanceolate, 5.5–6 mm long. Lower glume oblong to lanceolate, coriaceous, midrib ciliate, dorsally longitudinally grooved, smooth, glabrous, margins glabrous, apex erose. Upper glume lanceolate, back acute, glabrous, midrib glabrous, apex entire, mucronate, c. 1 mm long. Lower florets paleate, barren. Lower lemma lanceolate, c. 4.5 mm long, muticous. Upper lemma ovate to oblong, 3.5–4 mm long, veined, glabrous, apex incised to 0.5th of the lemma length, awn from a sinus, geniculate, column straight or slightly twisted, (incl. column) 9–10 mm long. Upper palea as long as the lemma, hyaline, apex entire. Pedicelled spikelets variously reduced. Anthers 3, c. 3 mm long. Pedicels linear, V-shaped, margins pubescent. Distribution — India (Meghalaya).

Note — Only known from the type (not seen), said to be close to M. petiolare .