Poaceae
Miscanthus

Miscanthus nepalensis (Trin.) Hack.

First published in A.L.P.P.de Candolle & A.C.P.de Candolle, Monogr. Phan. 6: 104 (1889)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is Indian Subcontinent to S. Central China and Peninsula Malaysia. It is a perennial and grows primarily in the wet tropical biome.

Descriptions

Extinction risk predictions for the world's flowering plants to support their conservation (2024). Bachman, S.P., Brown, M.J.M., Leão, T.C.C., Lughadha, E.N., Walker, B.E. https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/nph.19592

Conservation
Predicted extinction risk: not threatened. Confidence: confident
[AERP]

Morphology General Habit
Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short. Culms erect; 90-150 cm long. Leaf-sheaths 10-12 cm long; pilose. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blades 30-50 cm long; 6-10 mm wide.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence composed of racemes. Racemes 10-15; borne along a central axis; closely spaced; 5-10 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 4-8 cm long. Rhachis tough; subterete; glabrous on surface. Rhachis internodes filiform. Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled; 2 in the cluster. Pedicels filiform; unequal; 1-2.8 mm long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets
Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 2-2.5 mm long; falling entire. Spikelet callus bearded; base truncate. Spikelet callus hairs tawny; 3-4 length of spikelet.
Fertile
Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 2-2.5 mm long; falling entire. Spikelet callus bearded; base truncate. Spikelet callus hairs tawny; 3-4 length of spikelet.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume
Glumes dissimilar; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 1 length of spikelet; chartaceous; light brown; without keels. Lower glume surface flat. Lower glume margins ciliate. Lower glume hairs tawny; 4-6 mm long. Lower glume apex emarginate. Upper glume lanceolate; chartaceous; without keels. Upper glume apex acute.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Florets
Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret ovate; 1.8 mm long; hyaline; 0 -veined; without midvein; without lateral veins. Fertile lemma lanceolate; 1.8 mm long; hyaline; without keel; 1 -veined. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; 9-13 mm long overall. Palea 0.8 mm long; 0.5 length of lemma; hyaline; 0 -veined; without keels.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Anthers 2; 1.4 mm long.
Distribution
Asia-temperate: China. Asia-tropical: India, Indo-China, and Malesia. Australasia: New Zealand.
Reference
Andropogoneae. Fl Pak 1993.
[GB]

Sources

  • Angiosperm Extinction Risk Predictions v1

    • Angiosperm Threat Predictions
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

  • GrassBase - The Online World Grass Flora

    • Clayton, W.D., Vorontsova, M.S., Harman, K.T. and Williamson, H. (2006 onwards). GrassBase - The Online World Grass Flora.
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

    • 'The Herbarium Catalogue, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the Internet http://www.kew.org/herbcat [accessed on Day Month Year]'. Please enter the date on which you consulted the system.
    • Digital Image © Board of Trustees, RBG Kew http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2026. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2026. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Science Photographs

    • Copyright applied to individual images