Chionachne javanica

HABIT Annual. Culms erect; robust; 100–200 cm long. Culm-internodes terete; 10 cm long; distally glabrous. Lateral branches ample. Leaf-sheaths mostly shorter than adjacent culm internode; glabrous on surface. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1 mm long; truncate. Leaf-blade base with a false petiole; petiole 2 cm long. Leaf-blades lanceolate, or oblong; 10 cm long; 30 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade margins undulate.

INFLORESCENCE Monoecious; with male and female spikelets in the same inflorescence. Synflorescence compound; paniculate. Inflorescence composed of racemes; terminal and axillary; subtended by a spatheole; embraced at base by subtending leaf. Spatheole lanceolate.

Racemes 1; single; 2–3 cm long; bearing few fertile spikelets; bearing 2–3 fertile spikelets on each. Rhachis fragile at the nodes; subterete. Rhachis internodes linear; bearing a sterile companion laterally. Rhachis internode tip transverse; cupuliform.

Sexes segregated; on bisexual branches; with male above. Spikelets embracing internode; in pairs. Fertile spikelets sessile; 1 in the cluster. Companion sterile spikelets pedicelled; 0–1 in the cluster. Male spikelets sessile and pedicelled; 2–3 in a cluster. Pedicels fused to internode; united wholly.

STERILE SPIKELETS Companion sterile spikelets rudimentary; shorter than fertile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 7 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures. Spikelet callus 1 mm long; base truncate; with central peg; attached transversely.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 1 length of spikelet; coriaceous; without keels; keel-less except near apex. Lower glume surface not waisted. Lower glume apex obtuse, or acute. Upper glume lanceolate; coriaceous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins obscure. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret lanceolate; membranous. Fertile florets female. Fertile lemma lanceolate; hyaline; without keel. Palea hyaline; without keels.

FLOWER Lodicules absent.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum punctiform.

MALE Male spikelets distinct from female; with pedicels fused to rhachis; 4–5 mm long; glabrous. Male spikelet glumes 2.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: Malesia.

NOTES Andropogoneae. Fl Java 1997.

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