Corispermum falcatum Iljin

Plants 5-12 cm. Stem few branched, mostly in lower part; branches obliquely spreading or prostrate, longer than main stem, terete. Leaves green, linear, 1.5-2.5 cm × 1.5-2.5 mm, slightly fleshy, 1-veined, base attenuate, margin entire, apex acute, mucronate. Spikelike inflorescence terete, crowded; bracts lanceolate, usually sickle-shaped, 1-2 cm × 2.5-3 mm, slightly narrower than or equaling utricle, 1-veined, base attenuate or rounded, margin entire, narrowly membranous, apex acute, mucronate. Perianth segments 1(or 3), upper one ovate or oblong-ovate, apex lacerate, denticulate, lower segments very small or absent. Stamens 1-3, 1.5-2 × as long as perianth segments. Utricle dark green, obovate-elliptic, 3.5-4 × 2.5-3 mm, glabrous, base rounded, apex widely emarginate; wing light yellow, ca. 0.5 mm wide, margin irregularly denticulate; beak ca. 1 mm, apices 2, crossed, ca. 1/2 as long as beak. Fl. and fr. Jul-Sep.

* Sandy places in valleys. Qinghai (Qaidam Pendi), Xizang (Gyangzê, Xigazê).

Annual up to 40 cm, slightly pubescent. Leaves lanceolate, oblanceolate or narrowly oblong, often recurved, up to 3.0 × 0.5 cm. Inflorescence elongated, with many flowers. Bracts usually recurved, sickle-shaped, not completely covering the fruit. Fruits 3.5–4.0 × 3.0 mm, glabrous but sometimes with dark-brown cells and scattered warts (Fig. 33A); fruit margin emarginate at the top. Wing 0.45–0.60 mm, denticulate or crisp, narrowly triangular in cross-section. Sclereids in the medium fruit part consist of 1–2 cell layers orientated parallel to the fruit axis.

See Fig. 34.