Arundinella khasiana

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rootstock evident. Culms robust; 50–105 cm long. Culm-nodes pubescent. Leaf-sheaths scaberulous; pilose; with tubercle-based hairs. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 0.5–1 mm long. Leaf-blades conduplicate, or involute; 15–45 cm long; 4–6 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; rough on both sides; glabrous, or pubescent; hairy on both sides. Leaf-blade margins scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; bearing juvenile spikelets at emergence. Peduncle smooth, or scaberulous above.

Panicle open; lanceolate; dense, or loose; 15–50 cm long; 5–10 cm wide. Primary panicle branches ascending; 5–11 cm long. Panicle axis scabrous. Panicle branches scabrous.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled; 2 in the cluster. Pedicels scabrous; glabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 5.5–6 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus bearded; obtuse.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; dissimilar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma; gaping. Lower glume elliptic; 4–4.5 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; purple; 1-keeled; 5 -veined. Lower glume surface scabrous; rough on veins; pilose; with tubercle-based hairs. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume ovate; 5.5 mm long; 1.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; purple; 1-keeled; 5 -veined. Upper glume surface scabrous; rough on veins; pilose; with tubercle-based hairs. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male; with palea; persisting on inflorescence. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; ovate; 5.5 mm long; membranous; 1-keeled; 2 -veined; acuminate. Fertile lemma oblong; 3–4 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins obscure. Lemma surface asperulous. Lemma margins involute; interlocking with palea keels. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; geniculate; 5–6 mm long overall; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn 2 mm long. Lateral lemma awns arising on apex of lobes; 1 mm long. Palea with auriculate flaps; coriaceous; 2 -veined. Palea surface asperulous.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3; 1.5–2 mm long. Stigmas 2.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China. Asia-tropical: India.

NOTES Arundinelleae. Bor 1993.

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