Centotheca philippinensis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 30–75 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5–2 mm long. Leaf-blade base cuneate; symmetrical. Leaf-blades linear, or lanceolate; 5.2–13.5(–16) cm long; 3–15 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation with distinct cross veins.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 4–15 cm long; contracted about primary branches. Primary panicle branches 4–8 cm long; bearing spikelets almost to the base.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels linear; 1–1.5 mm long; 0.5–1 length of fertile spikelet; puberulous; hairy all along but hairs longer above.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1–3 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed, or subterete; 5–5.2 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with the pedicel.

GLUMES Glumes similar; shorter than spikelet; similar to fertile lemma in texture. Lower glume ovate; 1–2.4 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; herbaceous; 1-keeled; 3–5 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scaberulous. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume oblong; 1.4–3.2 mm long; 0.6–0.9 length of adjacent fertile lemma; herbaceous; 1-keeled; 3–5 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scaberulous. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile florets all alike, or with the lowest dissimilar. Lowest fertile lemma glabrous, or hairy. Fertile lemma oblong; 2.5–3 mm long; herbaceous; without keel; 5–7 -veined. Lemma surface glabrous, or hispid (retrorsely). Lemma apex apiculate; muticous, or mucronate. Palea oblanceolate; 0.5 length of lemma; 2 -veined.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate. Anthers 2; 0.6–0.75 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: Malesia and Papuasia. Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Centotheceae. Veldkamp 2013.

ADDITIONAL CHARACTERS Leaf length/width ratio 7.9–22.

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