Mnesithea laevis

Mnesithea laevis (Retz.) Kunth, Révis. Gramin. 1: 154 1829. (Syn: Diperium cylindricum Desv. [Illegitimate]; Hemarthria perforata (Roxb.) Kunth; Heteropholis cochinchinensis (Lour.) Clayton; Mnesithea laevis var. cochinchinensis (Lour.) de Koning & Sosef; Mnesithea laevis var. hirta Jansen; Mnesithea laevis var. laevis ; Mnesithea perforata (Roxb.) Haines; Ophiuros cochinchinensis (Lour.) Merr.; Ophiuros laevis (Retz.) Benth.; Ophiuros monostachyus J.Presl; Ophiuros perforatus (Roxb.) Trin.; Ophiuros undatus Nees; Ophiuros undulatus Benth. [Spelling variant]; Ophiurus laevis (Retz.) Benth.; Paspalum cochinchinense (Lour.) Willd. ex Flüggé; Paspalum cochinchinense (Lour.) Roem. & Schult.; Phleum cochinchinense Lour.; Rottboellia corymbosa var. cochinchinensis (Lour.) Roberty; Rottboellia laevis Retz.; Rottboellia monostachya (J.Presl & C.Presl) Em.Schmid [Invalid]; Rottboellia perforata Roxb.; Thaumastochloa cochinchinensis (Lour.) C.E.Hubb.; Thyridostachyum laeve (Retz.) Nees ex Steud.);
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Tropical & Subtropical Asia to NW. Pacific: Andaman Is., Bangladesh, Cambodia, Caroline Is., China Southeast, East Himalaya, Hainan, India, Jawa, Laos, Lesser Sunda Is., Maluku, Marianas, Myanmar, Nansei-shoto, Nicobar Is., Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Sulawesi, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, West Himalaya as per POWO;

Perennials. Culms 20-150 cm high, erect, rhizomatous; nodes glabrous. Leaves oblong-lanceolate, lanceolate or linear, 2-50 x 0.2-0.8 cm, flat, blunt or shortly acute at apex. Ligules membranous, thin, truncate. Spikes terminal and axillary, 3-20 cm long, ending with narrow tails of almost barren spikelets. Joints 4-6 mm long, hollow, with a pair of sessile spikelets at each node. Spikelets all sessile, pedicelled ones reduced, oblong, 3-5 mm, awnless, sunken in cavities of rhachis. Lower glume oblong, 3-5 x 1-1.5 mm, coriaceous, 5-7-nerved, nerves visible only on inner side. Upper glume oblong, 3.5-5 x 1.5-2 mm, delicate, hyaline, faintly 3-nerved. Lower floret empty. Upper floret bisexual. First lemma oblong, 3-4.5 x 1-1.5 mm, acute, delicate, hyaline, faintly 2-3 nerved. Second lemma oblong, 3-4 x 1-1.5 mm, delicate, hyaline, faintly 3-nerved. Palea oblong, 2.5-3.5 x 1 mm, delicate, hyaline. Stamens 3, anthers 2-3 mm long. Ovary oblanceolate, 0.3-0.5 mm long; styles c. 0.5 mm; stigmas 1-1.5 mm long.

Flowering and fruiting: August-January

Coastal zones, in dry sandy soil

Afghanistan to Malesia through India

(Attributions- Dr. N Sasidharan (Dr. B P Pal Fellow), Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi

from India Biodiversity Portal )
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