Chrysopogon filipes

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short. Basal innovations intravaginal; flabellate. Culms erect; 70–100 cm long; 3–6 -noded. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 15–45 cm long; 3–6 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; rough adaxially. Leaf-blade margins scabrous. Leaf-blade apex obtuse.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle with branches tipped by a raceme. Peduncle antrorsely scabrous above.

Panicle contracted; lanceolate; nodding; 15–30 cm long; 3–7 cm wide. Primary panicle branches whorled at most nodes; simple.

Racemes 3.5–9 cm long; bearing few fertile spikelets; bearing 3–7 fertile spikelets on each. Rhachis fragile at the nodes. Rhachis internodes filiform; 7–15(–20) mm long. Rhachis internode tip oblique. Raceme-bases filiform; pubescent; hairy at tip.

Spikelets appressed; in pairs. Fertile spikelets sessile; 1 in the cluster. Companion sterile spikelets pedicelled; 1 in the cluster. Pedicels filiform; 3–8 mm long.

STERILE SPIKELETS Companion sterile spikelets well-developed; containing empty lemmas; lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 3–8.3 mm long; shorter than fertile; separately deciduous. Companion sterile spikelet glumes chartaceous; scabrous; muticous. Companion sterile spikelet lemmas 2; enclosed by glumes.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets linear; laterally compressed; compressed slightly; 8–10 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures. Spikelet callus linear; 2.5–3.5 mm long; bearded; base acute; attached obliquely. Spikelet callus hairs yellow; 0.4–0.5 length of spikelet (1–1.5mm).

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; reaching apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 1 length of spikelet; coriaceous; without keels; 5 -veined. Lower glume surface spinose; rough on flanks. Upper glume lanceolate; coriaceous; 1-keeled. Upper glume primary vein scabrous. Upper glume surface scabrous. Upper glume mucronate.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret oblong; 1 length of spikelet; hyaline; 2 -veined; ciliolate on margins. Fertile lemma oblong; 7–9 mm long; hyaline; without keel; 1 -veined. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; flexuous; 13–26 mm long overall. Palea 0.3–0.5 length of lemma; hyaline; 0 -veined; without keels.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 3 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform; 4 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: Papuasia. Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Andropogoneae. Blake.

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