Lophatherum GRAMINEAE Poa 



falling entire at maturity, in open panicles of few to several racemes: fertile lemmas 

 mucronate, tightly rolled together. 2 species; one in tropical Asia and New Guinea; 

 the other in southeastern China. (Greek: lophis, a crest, and atheros, awn or stiff 

 bristle.) 



Key to the Species 



Spikelets lanceolate or linear-lanceolate, 1.5-2. Omm. wide 1. L. gracile 



Spikelets broadly lanceolate, 2.5-3.0 mm. wide 2. L. sinense 



1. Lophatherum gracile Brongn. ffiYjM (Tan Chu Yeh; Light-green Bamboo Leaf) 

 (H.F. 7:331). Rhizomes woody; roots often fleshy; culms 30-100 cm. high; fls. 

 and fr. VIII-IX. Tropical Asia to New Guinea; locally in An., Che., Ki., Ku. 

 Shady places. Fig. 408. 



2. Lophatherum sinense Rendle (F.H.E. 3: 421). Differs from L. gracile only in 

 the broader spikelets; fls. and fr. IX-X. Southeastern China; locally in An., Che., 

 Ki., Ku. 



13. Glyceria R. Br. ffi^M (Tien Mao Shu) 

 Aquatic or marshy-ground perennials with flat If. blades, and closed or partly 

 closed sheaths: spikelets awnless, in narrow or spreading panicles: lemmas with 7 

 strong parallel nerves, and with scarious margins and tips; styles distinct. About 40 

 species, in temperate regions; 8 in China. (Greek: glykeros, sweet, alluding to the 

 taste of the grain.) 



Key to the Species 



Panicle ample, compound: palea equaling or shorter than the lemma.. 1. G. leptolepis 



var. laxior 

 Panicle much reduced, simple: palea longer than the lemma 2. G. acutiflora 



1. Glyceria leptolepis Ohwi var. laxior Keng (Si. 11: 410). Culms about 1 m. high; 

 fls. VI; fr. VIII. Southeastern China; locally in An., Ki. Stream banks. 



2. Glyceria acutiflora Torr. fftf: (T'ien Mao; Sweet-grass) (Hitch. 83). Culms often 

 decumbent, 30-60 cm. high; fls. IV; fr. VI. Eastern North America and eastern 

 Asia; locally in Ku. Swamps and ditches. 



14. Puccinellia Pari. l-j^t^H (Pu Shih Ts'ao Shu; Puccinelli's-grass Genus) 



Low tufted annuals (ours): spikelets as in Glyceria: lemmas with 5 obscure parallel 

 nerves; styles none. About 30 species, in arctic and sub-arctic regions; 8 in China. 

 (After Prof. Benedetto Puccinelli, an Italian botanist.) 

 1. Puccinellia kengiana Ohwi (P. stricta Keng) (Si. 4: 321). Glabrous annual; culms 



30-40 cm. high; fls. IV; fr. V. Southeastern China; locally in Ku. Ditches and 



wheat fields. 



15. Poa Linn. f-j&Tfrg (Ts'ao Shu Ho Shu) 

 Perennials or annuals of various habit: If. blades usually flat with navicular point: 

 spikelets in panicles: lemmas awnless, usually scarious- tipped, 5-nerved, the mid-nerve and 

 marginal nerves usually silky-pubescent; callus usually cobwebby at the base. About 

 200 species, in temperate and cold regions; about 30 species in China. (An ancient 

 Greek name for grass or fodder.) 



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