Deyeuxia elatior

HABIT Perennial. Culms erect; reed-like; 100–200 cm long. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface, or hirsute. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 15–20 cm long; 8–15 mm wide; coriaceous. Leaf-blade midrib prominent beneath. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pubescent; hairy abaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; effuse; 15–30 cm long; 10–15 cm wide. Primary panicle branches spreading; whorled at lower nodes. Panicle branches scaberulous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 5–5.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus pilose.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 5–5.5 mm long; 1.1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 4.5–5 mm long; 1.1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scabrous. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate, or ovate; 4–4.5 mm long; membranous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface scaberulous. Lemma apex dentate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; arising 0.1 way up back of lemma; geniculate; 7–8 mm long overall; with twisted column. Palea 4 mm long; hyaline; 2 -veined. Rhachilla extension pilose.

FLOWER Lodicules 2. Anthers 3; 2.5 mm long. Stigmas 2.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: India.

NOTES Aveneae. Fl Assam 1993.

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