Devauxia banksii R. Brown, Prodr. 253. 1810; Centrolepis asiatica Merrill ex Gagnepain; C. hainanensis Merrill & Metcalf; C. miboroides Gagnepain.

Herbs annual, 2--5 cm tall, densely tufted. Leaf sheath hyaline at margin; leaf blade linear to filiform, 0.7--2.5 cm, apex acute. Scapes thin, 1.2--5 cm, base surrounded by reduced, sheathlike leaves. Inflorescences 6--13-flowered; bracts ciliate at margin, apex obtuse, outer one sessile, ovate, 3--3.5 mm, inner one shortly stalked, suborbicular, 2.5--3 mm. Bracteoles 2, opposite, oblong or linear, ca. 2 mm. Stamen 1; filament 2--3 mm; anther ovoid. Carpels 14, free, adnate laterally to carpophore. Styles free, unequal, 1--3 mm, basal longest. Fruit small, membranous. Seeds yellowish brown, ovoid. Fl. and fr. Nov--Feb.

In addition to occurring at low elevations, this species is found at ca. 1500 m on mountainous plateaus in Thailand.

Grasslands, dry rice fields, sandy soil by rivers; near sea level to 100 m. Hainan [Cambodia, ?Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam; Australia (Queensland)].