Chrysopogon lawsonii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short. Basal innovations intravaginal. Culms erect; 40–170 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades conduplicate; 10–45 cm long; 3–4 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade margins scabrous. Leaf-blade apex abruptly acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle with branches tipped by a raceme.

Panicle open; lanceolate; 18–30 cm long. Primary panicle branches whorled at most nodes; simple.

Racemes 5–8 cm long; bearing few fertile spikelets; bearing 3–5 fertile spikelets on each. Rhachis fragile at the nodes. Rhachis internodes filiform; 3.5–4 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; 3.7–4 mm long.

STERILE SPIKELETS Companion sterile spikelets well-developed; male; lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 6.8–7 mm long; longer than fertile; separately deciduous. Companion sterile spikelet glumes chartaceous; 5 -veined; smooth; ciliolate on margins; muticous. Companion sterile spikelet lemmas 2; enclosed by glumes.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; compressed slightly; 6–6.2 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures. Spikelet callus cuneate; 0.5–0.6 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. Lower glume surface spinose, or muricate; rough on flanks. Upper glume lanceolate; chartaceous; 1-keeled. Upper glume awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 9–10 mm long.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret oblong; 2.5–2.7 mm long; hyaline; 2 -veined; ciliolate on margins. Fertile lemma oblong; 4–4.5 mm long; hyaline; without keel; 1 -veined. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; geniculate; 25–30 mm long overall; clearly exserted from spikelet; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn hispidulous. Palea 0.3–0.5 length of lemma; hyaline; 0 -veined; without keels.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 3–3.3 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: India.

NOTES Andropogoneae. WDC.

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