Microstegium falconeri (Hook.f.) Clayton

Chen, H., Veldkamp, J. - F. & Kuoh, C. - S., 2012, Taxonomic revision of Microstegium s. str. Andropogoneae, Poaceae), Blumea 57 (2), pp. 160-189 : 169

6. Microstegium falconeri (Hook.f.) Clayton — Fig. 5 ; Map 5

Microstegium falconeri (Hook.f.) Clayton (1981) 816. — Ischnochloa falconeri Hook.f. (1896a) 148; in Hook. (1896b) t. 2466. — Pogonatherum falconeri (Hook.f.) Roberty (1960) 396. — Type: Falconer s.n. (holo K).

Annuals, caespitose. Culms decumbent, weak, 15 –25 cm long, without nodal roots. Nodes glabrous. Sheaths glabrous, outer margin glabrous, oral hairs scanty. Ligule absent or a glabrous membrane, 0–0.5 mm long. Blades lanceolate, 1–4 cm by 3–7 mm, firm, base attenuate to slightly rounded, pseudopetiole absent, margins smooth, apex acute, densely hairy on both sides, without tubercle-based hairs. Panicles 2–4 cm long. Racemes solitary, ascending, straight, 2–4 cm long. Rachis tenacious, flattened, margins glabrous, internodes long, slen- der, 5–8 mm long. Sessile spikelets oblong to lanceolate, 3–5 mm long, callus glabrous or puberulous. Lower glume oblong to lanceolate, coriaceous, midrib glabrous, dorsally flat, smooth, glabrous, margins glabrous, apex emarginate. Upper glume elliptic, back acute, glabrous, midrib glabrous, apex entire, acute, muticous. Lower florets absent. Upper lemma oblong, c. 1.2 mm long, veined, glabrous, apex incised to 0.5–0.75th of the lemma length, awn from a sinus, geniculate, column straight or slightly twisted, (incl. column) 4–8 mm long. Upper palea absent or minute. Anthers 3, 1.2–1.5 mm long. Pedicels linear, flattened, 1.5–4 mm long, margins glabrous. Pedicelled spikelets subequal to the sessile ones.

Distribution — India (NW Himalaya), Bhutan.

Habitat — Mossy rocks, c. 2000 m altitude.

Figures

Fig. 5 Microstegium falconeri (Hook.f.) Clayton. a. Habit; b. spikelets (front view);c. spikelets (rear view);d. lower glume;e.upper glume; f. upper lemma with awn; g. joint of leaf sheath and leaf blade (all: Falconer s.n., K).