Glyceria tonglensis C. B. Clarke

The name Glyceria tonglensis has been misapplied to G. ischyro-neura Steudel, which occurs from Japan and S Korea northward to the S Kuril Islands. This is a very similar species, distinguished by its shorter (2–2.8 mm), ovate lemmas, shorter anthers (0.5–0.7 mm), more strongly convex palea keels, and strongly sinuous rachilla. It has been reported in the literature from NE China, but its presence there has not been confirmed.

2000-3000 m.

Perennial, tufted or shortly creeping. Culms ascending, 10–50(–75) cm tall, 1–2 mm in diam. Leaf sheaths slightly keeled, smooth or scaberulous, upper shorter than internodes; leaf blades flat or folded, 6–15 cm × 2–3(–5) mm, smooth or scaberulous, abruptly acute; ligule 0.7–1(–3) mm. Panicle narrow and contracted when young, later open, 10–27 cm; branches 2–4 at lower nodes, erect at first, later spreading or deflexed, smooth, longest bearing up to 14 spikelets. Spikelets narrowly elliptic-oblong, 6–9 mm, florets 4–8, gray-green or tinged purplish brown; glumes ovate to ovate-oblong, membranous, 1-veined, lower glume 1–2 mm, upper glume 1.8–2.8 mm, apex acute; lemmas ovate-oblong, 2.8–3.6 mm, firmly papery, minutely granular, 7-veined, veins scaberulous, apex membranous, obtuse, often slightly crenulate; palea as long as lemma, keels thick, wingless, scabrid. Stamens 3, anthers 0.85–1 mm. Fl. and fr. Jul–Sep.

Tufted or creeping perennial; culms 20-50(-80) cm high, ascending from a prostrate and creeping base in wet places, rooting at the lower nodes, or more tufted in drier places. Leaf-blades flat or folded, 10-30 cm long, 2-4 mm wide, blunt or abruptly pointed at the tip, green; ligule up to 3 mm long, but most frequently not more than 1 mm. Panicle narrow at first, 10-30 cm long, the branches strictly erect, finally spreading or deflexed. Spikelets ovate, 6-85(-10) mm long, 4-6-(-8)-flowered, green or tinged with purple; glumes ovate, acute, the lower 1-1.5(-2.3) mm long, the upper 1.5-2.5(-3) mm long, often with jagged margins; lemma (2.7-)3-3.5 mm long, oblong-ovate, very obtuse, often slightly crenulate at the tip, with 7 equally prominent, scabridulous nerves; palea keels without wings.

N.W. Himalaya to Assam (Naga Hills), S. China, Japan.

Anhui, Guizhou, Jiangxi, Sichuan, Xizang, Yunnan [Bhutan, India, Kashmir, Myanmar, Nepal].

Distribution: Kashmir; temperate Himalayas.

2300-3500 m

Fl. & Fr. Per.: July-September.

Marshy ground in forests, wet grassy places under shrubs, streams, ditches; 1500–3600 m.

Glyceria kashmiriensis Kelso; G. ovatiflora Keng ex P. C. Keng; G. tonglensis var. ovatiflora (Keng ex P. C. Keng) P. C. Keng.