Cymbopogon flexuosus

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short. Butt sheaths persistent and investing base of culm; with curly dead sheaths. Culms erect; 200–300 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Culm-nodes glabrous. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Leaf-sheath oral hairs pubescent. Leaf-sheath auricles absent, or erect. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2–5 mm long; scarious. Leaf-blades 50–100 cm long; 8–15 mm wide; glaucous; aromatic. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; rough on both sides; glabrous; hairless except near base. Leaf-blade margins scabrous. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Synflorescence compound; paniculate; 30–60 cm long; lax. Inflorescence composed of racemes; terminal and axillary; subtended by a spatheole; enclosed. Spatheole elliptic; 1–2 cm long. Peduncle 0.3 cm long; pilose above.

Racemes 2; paired; erect, or deflexed; 1.6–1.7 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); pubescent.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets sessile; 1 in the cluster. Companion sterile spikelets pedicelled; 1 in the cluster. Pedicels linear; semiterete; 2 mm long; 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 free; linear. Basal sterile spikelets male; equalling fertile. Basal sterile spikelet lower glume muticous.

Companion sterile spikelets well-developed; male; elliptic; 3.5 mm long; shorter than fertile; deciduous with the fertile. Companion sterile spikelet glumes chartaceous; 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 lanceolate; 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 lanceolate; 1 length of spikelet; chartaceous; 2-keeled; keeled all along; keeled laterally; winged on keel; winged narrowly. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume intercarinal veins distinct; 3 in number. Lower glume surface flat; smooth, or wrinkled. Upper glume lanceolate; 1-keeled; keeled above. Upper glume primary vein scabrous. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret lanceolate; hyaline; 2 -veined; ciliolate on margins. 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; 10–11 mm long overall; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn 3 mm long; glabrous. Palea absent or minute.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1.7–2 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: western Indian ocean. Asia-temperate: China. Asia-tropical: India, Indo-China, Malesia, and Papuasia.

NOTES Andropogoneae. Soenarko 1993.

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