康藏嵩草 kang zang song cao

Kobresia tibetica Maximowicz subsp. littledalei (C. B. Clarke) P. C. Li.

Rhizomes short. Basal sheaths prominent and persistent, very pale brown, dull, not fibrillose, not retaining dried leaf blades. Culms densely tufted, erect, rigid, subterete, 10-25 cm tall, 1-2 mm in diam. Leaves basal, shorter than or ± equaling culms; blade stiffly erect, filiform, ca. 1 mm wide, margin involute. Inflorescence spicate, usually unisexual; all spikelets 1-flowered. Male spikes linear or linear-oblong, 1.7-3 × 0.4-0.5 cm, occasionally with a few female spikelets at base; male glumes yellowish brown to brown, with pale green midvein, lanceolate, margin broadly hyaline, apex obtuse. Female spikes slightly lax, pale brown, linear, 1.5-4 × 0.2-0.3 cm; lowest involucral bract glumelike, apex aristate or not; female glumes brown or yellowish brown laterally, with pale green midvein, ovate to lanceolate, 4-6 × 1.5-2 mm, margin narrowly hyaline, apex acute. Prophylls pale brown or brown, utriculiform, oblong or lanceolate, 3.5-5 × 1.2-1.3 mm, membranous, 2-keeled, keels ciliate, margins fused to middle part or to apex, apex rounded. Nutlets oblong, trigonous, 2-2.7 × ca. 1 mm, not stipitate, not beaked. Stigmas 3. Sterile rachilla of female spikelets linear, flat, ca. 1/2 as long as nutlet or slightly longer. Fl. and fr. May-Sep.

● Grassy slopes, alpine meadows, alpine shrubby meadows, rocky and sandy grassy slopes; 4300-5300 m. ?Qinghai, Sichuan, Xizang.