Chrysopogon fulvibarbis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short. Basal innovations intravaginal; flabellate. Culms erect; 100–200 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 30–90 cm long; 3–6 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade margins scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle with branches tipped by a raceme.

Panicle open; lanceolate; 10–20 cm long. Primary panicle branches whorled at most nodes; simple.

Racemes 4–8 cm long. Rhachis fragile at the nodes. Rhachis internodes filiform; 6–8 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.

STERILE SPIKELETS Companion sterile spikelets well-developed; male; linear; dorsally compressed; as long as fertile; separately deciduous. Companion sterile spikelet glumes chartaceous; 7–8 -veined; smooth; ciliolate on margins; muticous, or mucronate. 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; 6–8 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures. Spikelet callus cuneate; 0.5–0.8 mm long; bearded; base obtuse; attached obliquely. Spikelet callus hairs yellow; 0.1–0.2 length of spikelet.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; reaching apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 1 length of spikelet; coriaceous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Lower glume surface spinose; rough on flanks. Upper glume lanceolate; chartaceous; 1-keeled. Upper glume primary vein scabrous. Upper glume awned.

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; 4–6 mm long; hyaline; without keel; 1 -veined. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; geniculate; 10–20 mm long overall; clearly exserted from spikelet; with a straight or slightly twisted column. Palea 0.3–0.5 length of lemma; hyaline; 0 -veined; without keels.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 3.5 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: west tropical and west-central tropical.

NOTES Andropogoneae. FTA.

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