高原嵩草 gao yuan song cao

Kobresia coninux F. T. Wang & Tang; K. daqingshanica X. Y. Mao; K. helanshanica W. Z. Di & M. J. Zhong.

Rhizomes short. Basal sheaths pale brown to brown, dull, retaining dried leaf blades. Culms densely tufted, erect, obtusely trigonous, 2-15 cm tall, 0.7-1 mm in diam. (relatively stout for length). Leaves basal, shorter than or ± equaling culms, sometimes recurved; blade flat, folded at base (V-shaped in cross section), 1-1.5(-2) mm wide, midrib distinct abaxially or not. Inflorescence densely spicate (occasionally branched in lower part), brown, narrowly elliptic or narrowly ovate-oblong, 0.5-1.2 × 0.3-0.4 cm; lowest involucral bract glumelike, apex shortly aristate. Terminal spikelets of inflorescence male, lower ones bisexual with 1 basal female flower and (1 or)2-5 distal male flowers. Glumes brown or pale brown, with yellowish green or green midvein, oblong, ovate, or lanceolate, 3.2-5 × 1.5-2.5 mm, margin hyaline or not, apex obtuse or acute. Prophylls pale brown, oblong, ovate-oblong, or elliptic, 2.9-4 × 1-2 mm, membranous, abaxially sometimes hairy, 2-keeled, keels scabrid, margins open to base, apex truncate or 2-toothed. Nutlets brown and shiny, elliptic or oblong-obovate, flattened, body 1.6-2.5 × 0.8-1.5 mm, shortly stipitate, very shortly beaked. Stigmas 2. Fl. and fr. May-Oct.

● Exposed dry slopes, alpine meadows, shaded places, marshes; 3100-5300 m. Gansu, Hebei, Nei Mongol, Qinghai, Sichuan, Xizang.

This species is similar to Kobresia humilis, differing largely in its bistigmatic nutlets.