Calamagrostis emodensis Griseb.

This is a well-defined species with relatively broad leaf blades, a pale, shining panicle, and a deeply toothed lemma. The floret contains a single plump anther.

A very handsome grass with broad leaves and silvery panicle. 2400-4000 m.

Perennial, densely tufted, rhizomatous; rhizomes spreading. Culms erect, stout, 1–1.3 m tall, 3–4 mm in diam., smooth or slightly scabrid below panicle. Leaf sheaths with auricle on one side; leaf blades broadly linear, flat, 25–45 cm, 5–20 mm wide, adaxial surface scabrid, abaxial surface smooth, apex finely acuminate; ligule 0.5–3 mm, truncate. Panicle loosely contracted, lanceolate in outline, 15–25 cm, nodding, plumose; branches in whorls, bare at base, slightly scabrid. Spikelets silvery-green or tinged pale purple, 5.5–8 mm; glumes linear-lanceolate, subequal or lower glume slightly longer, keel scabrid, apex subulate; callus hairs 2–3 times length of lemma; lemma ca. 1/2 as long as glumes, 2–2.7 mm, 5-veined, deeply 2-toothed by up to 1/3 its length; awn 5–9 mm, arising between teeth, straight, usually projecting beyond glumes; palea slightly shorter than lemma; rachilla extension absent or rudimentary, glabrous. Stamen 1, anther 0.7–1 mm. Fl. and fr. Aug–Sep.

Tufted perennial with creeping rhizomes; culms 80-130 cm high, erect, stout, smooth or slightly rough beneath the panicle. Leaf-blades up to 55 cm long, (4-)8-20 mm wide, flat, scabrid above; ligule 1-3(-5) mm long, obtuse. Panicle nodding, ovate to lanceolate, 13-35 cm long, lax, pallid or faintly tinged with purple. Spikelets 5-8 mm long, the rhachilla sometimes shortly prolonged; glumes subequal or unequal, subulate-lanceolate, smooth or scaberulous only on the keel; lemma about half the length of the glumes, smooth, 2-toothed at the tip; awn 4-9 mm long, arising above the middle of the lemma and below the top third, usually projecting beyond the glume tips; callus hairs 2-3 times the length of the floret.

Himalaya (Kashmir to Bhutan), W. China.

Shaanxi, Sichuan, Xizang, Yunnan [Bhutan, N India, Kashmir, N Pakistan].

Distribution: Pakistan (N.W.F.P. & Kashmir); Himalayas.

W. Himalaya to Nepal.

2900-3700 m

3500 m

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

Grassy slopes in montane regions; 1900–5000 m.

Calamagrostis garwhalensis Hubbard & Bor.