Pseudosorghum

HABIT Annual. Culms decumbent; 40–85–150 cm long; rooting from lower nodes (1/1). Ligule an eciliate membrane (1), or a ciliolate membrane (1).

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle with branches tipped by a raceme.

Panicle open.

Racemes bearing few fertile spikelets (1), or many spikelets (1); 3–6 fertile spikelets on each (1), or 10–14 fertile spikelets on each (1). Rhachis fragile at the nodes. Rhachis internodes filiform. Rhachis internode tip transverse.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets sessile; 1 in the cluster. Companion sterile spikelets pedicelled; 1 in the cluster. Pedicels filiform; tip rectangular.

STERILE SPIKELETS Companion sterile spikelets well-developed; separately deciduous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 4–4.5–5 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures. Spikelet callus pilose; base obtuse; attached transversely.

GLUMES Glumes reaching apex of florets (1), or exceeding apex of florets (1); firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; cartilaginous; without keels; 7–9 -veined. Lower glume surface convex (1), or flat (1); without pits. Lower glume apex truncate. Upper glume elliptic; cartilaginous; without keels; 5 -veined, or 6–7 -veined (1). Upper glume apex acute (1/1).

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret lanceolate; hyaline; 0 -veined (1), or 2 -veined (1); acute (1/1), or acuminate (1/1). Fertile lemma lanceolate (1), or oblong (1); hyaline; wingless. Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves. Lemma margins eciliate (1), or ciliate (1). Lemma apex lobed; 2 -fid; incised 0.4–0.45–0.5 of lemma length; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; geniculate. Palea absent or minute.

FLOWER Lodicules 2. Anthers 3 (1/1).

DISTRIBUTION Temperate Asia (1), or Tropical Asia.

Please cite this publication as detailed in How to Cite Version: 3rd February 2016.