膜稃草屬

Hymenachne pseudointerrupta drawing Credit: CC Hsu

Perennials plants of marshes and water edges; culms filled with white pith; creeping or floating. Leaf blade linear or linear-lanceolate, amplexicaul at base, with acute apex; ligule membranaceous. Inflorescence a contracted, spike-like panicle, branching from all sides. Spikelets articulate with pedicels, narrowly lanceolate, subterete, acute, 2-flowered; rachilla distinctly elongated between glumes, not produced; glumes and lower lemma herbaceous; lower glume much shorter than spikelet; upper glume slightly shorter than spikelet; lower lemma as long as spikelet, 3-5-veined; lower palea absent; upper lemma membranaceous, with thin not inrolled margins embracing upper pale except at apex; upper palea membranaceous; stamens 3; ovary glabrous, styles 2, free, stigma plumose, exserted laterally from upper part of spikelets. Caryopsis free from upper palea and upper lemma.

Five species in the tropical regions. One species in Taiwan.

Lower Taxon

• Hymenachne pseudointerrupta N. J. C. Muell.