Trisetum formosanum Honda in Bot. Mag. Tokyo 41: 636. 1927, Honda Monogr. Poac. Jap. 128. 1930.
Trisetum subspicatum (L.) Beauv., Ess. Agrost. 88: 149. 1812; Honda Monogr. Poac. Jap. 129. 1930.
Perennial, densely tufted; culms erect, 10-50 cm tall, 1-2 mm in diameter, ligule membranous, tongue-shaped, 3 mm; leaf-blades 10-15 cm long, 5 mm wide. Panicle contracted, nearly cylindrical, 10-15 cm long. Spikelet 2-3-flowered, 7 mm long, rachilla joints 1 mm long; glumes chartaceous, lanceolate, lower glume 5 mm long, 1-nerved, upper glume 7 mm long, 3-nerved; lemma 6 mm long, chartaceous, lanceolate, the acuminate, awn arising from near the apex, 3-6 mm long, weakly geniculate; palea membranous, linear, 5 mm long, ciliate on keel, the apex bifid. Anther 1 mm long.
ILAN: Nanhutashan, Suzuki s.n. July 17, 1937. HSINCHU: Tapachienshan, Kuoh 3286; Hsu 12199. TAICHUNG: Hsuehshan, Shimada 26088. NANTOU: Nengkaoshan, Kudo & Mori 138; Tsuifeng, Hsu 11570. CHIAYI: Mt. Morrison, Suzuki s.n. July 11, 193; Hsu 1106. KAOHSIUND: Kuanshan, Sasaki s.n. Oct. 19. 1933. HUALIEN: Chilaishannanfeng, Suzuki s.n. Aug. 24, 1929.
T. spicatum is a variable species widely distributed in artic and slpine regions of both Northern and Soutern Hemispoeres. Variety formosanum is endemic to Taiwan in alpine region.
