Cleistachne sorghoides

HABIT Annual. Culms erect; 60–250 cm long; with prop roots. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blade base tapering to the midrib. Leaf-blades 20–90 cm long; 4–15 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; linear to lanceolate; 8–40 cm long. Primary panicle branches simple; bearing spikelets almost to the base. Panicle branches flexuous; pilose.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform; ciliate.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; (3–)4–5(–6) mm long; falling entire. Spikelet callus pubescent; base obtuse; attached transversely.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; reaching apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma; shiny. Lower glume oblong; 1 length of spikelet; coriaceous; dark brown, or black; without keels; 7–9 -veined. Lower glume surface pilose. Lower glume hairs white, or yellow. Upper glume ovate; without keels. Upper glume surface pilose. Upper glume apex truncate.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret oblong; 1 length of spikelet; hyaline; 2 -veined; ciliate on margins. Fertile lemma oblong; 2–3 mm long; hyaline; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma margins ciliolate. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; bigeniculate; 15–35 mm long overall; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn glabrous. Palea hyaline; without keels.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; ciliate.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: west-central tropical, northeast tropical, east tropical, southern tropical, and south. Asia-temperate: Arabia. Asia-tropical: India.

NOTES Andropogoneae. FTEA.

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