Cymbopogon clandestinus

HABIT Perennial; culms solitary. Culms erect; 100–200 cm long; 2–4 mm diam.; with prop roots. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Culm-nodes glabrous. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 3 mm long; membranous. Leaf-blades 20–45 cm long; 5–9 mm wide; aromatic. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; rough on both sides; glabrous. Leaf-blade margins scabrous. Leaf-blade apex attenuate; filiform.

INFLORESCENCE Synflorescence compound; linear; 15–60 cm long; lax. Inflorescence composed of racemes; terminal and axillary; subtended by a spatheole; enclosed. Spatheole elliptic; 2–3.5 cm long. Peduncle 0.5–0.7 cm long.

Racemes 2; paired; deflexed; 1.7–2.3 cm long. Rhachis fragile at the nodes; semiterete; glabrous on surface; ciliate on margins. Rhachis internodes linear; 2.5 mm long. Rhachis internode tip transverse; cupuliform. Raceme-bases flattened; unequal (the longer measured).

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets sessile; 1 in the cluster. Companion sterile spikelets pedicelled; 1 in the cluster. Pedicels linear; semiterete; ciliate.

STERILE SPIKELETS Basal sterile spikelets well-developed; 2 in number (lower raceme); 0 in upper raceme; with normal internodes; sessile and pedicelled. Basal sterile spikelet pedicels fused to internode in lower raceme; swollen in lower raceme. Basal sterile spikelets equalling fertile.

Companion sterile spikelets well-developed; male; lanceolate; 5–5.5 mm long; as long as fertile; deciduous with the fertile. Companion sterile spikelet glumes chartaceous; pubescent; ciliate on margins; acute; muticous. Companion sterile spikelet lemmas 2; enclosed by glumes.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; dorsally compressed; 4.5–5 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures. Spikelet callus pubescent; base obtuse; inserted.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; chartaceous; without oil streaks; 2-keeled; keeled all along; keeled laterally; winged on keel; winged broadly; winged below. Lower glume primary vein ciliate. Lower glume intercarinal veins distinct; 2 in number. Lower glume surface with V-shaped depression; pubescent. Lower glume apex dentate; 2 -fid. Upper glume lanceolate; 1-keeled. Upper glume surface pubescent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret hyaline; 2 -veined. Fertile lemma lanceolate; hyaline; without keel. Lemma apex lobed; 2 -fid; incised 0.5 of lemma length; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; geniculate; 20–24 mm long overall; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn 12 mm long; glabrous. Palea absent or minute.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1.5 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: India and Indo-China.

NOTES Andropogoneae. Soenarko 1993.

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