Cymbopogon microthecus

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 20 cm long. Leaf-sheaths keeled. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1 mm long. Leaf-blades erect; 40 cm long; 3 mm wide; without scent. Leaf-blade surface glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Synflorescence compound; paniculate. Inflorescence composed of racemes; terminal and axillary; subtended by a spatheole; enclosed. Spatheole 1.5–2 cm long. Peduncle 0.3–0.4 cm long.

Racemes 2; paired; deflexed; 1.2–1.5 cm long. Rhachis fragile at the nodes; semiterete; ciliate on margins. Rhachis internodes clavate. Rhachis internode tip transverse; cupuliform. Raceme-bases flattened; subequal.

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

STERILE SPIKELETS Basal sterile spikelets well-developed; 2 in number (lower raceme); 0 in upper raceme; with swollen internode in lower raceme; 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; 4 mm long; longer than fertile; deciduous with the fertile. Companion sterile spikelet glumes chartaceous; 5–7 -veined; 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 elliptic; dorsally compressed; 3 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures. Spikelet callus pilose; base obtuse; inserted.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblong; 1 length of spikelet; chartaceous; 2-keeled; keeled laterally; wingless. Lower glume intercarinal veins absent. Lower glume surface concave. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 1-keeled. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret hyaline. Fertile lemma lanceolate; hyaline; without keel. Lemma apex lobed; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; geniculate; 10 mm long overall; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn glabrous. Palea absent or minute.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: India.

NOTES Andropogoneae. Soenarko.

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