Chrysopogon setifolius

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short. Culms erect; 40–50 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades filiform; involute; 8–15 cm long; 1 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pilose.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle with branches tipped by a raceme.

Panicle open; lanceolate; 7–12 cm long. Primary panicle branches simple. Panicle branches capillary.

Racemes bearing a triad of spikelets; 1 fertile spikelets on each. Rhachis obsolete.

Spikelets in threes. Fertile spikelets sessile; 1 in the cluster. Companion sterile spikelets pedicelled; 2 in the cluster. Pedicels linear; 0.75 length of fertile spikelet; glabrous.

STERILE SPIKELETS Companion sterile spikelets well-developed; male; lanceolate; 5–7 mm long; as long as fertile; separately deciduous. Companion sterile spikelet glumes chartaceous; acuminate; muticous. Companion sterile spikelet lemmas enclosed by glumes; muticous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 6–7 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures. Spikelet callus cuneate; 1 mm long; bearded; base acute. Spikelet callus hairs white; 1–1.5 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 5–6 mm long; 1 length of spikelet; coriaceous; without keels. Lower glume surface spinose; rough on flanks. Upper glume lanceolate; coriaceous; with hyaline margins; 1-keeled. Upper glume apex acute; muticous.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret lanceolate; 3 mm long; hyaline; 2 -veined. Fertile lemma oblong; 5 mm long; hyaline; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma margins ciliolate. Lemma apex entire; acuminate; muticous. Palea absent or minute.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Andropogoneae. WDC.

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