Cymbopogon minutiflorus

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths glabrous; persistent and investing base of culm; with curly dead sheaths. Culms erect; 100–200 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Culm-nodes swollen; bearded. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1 mm long; membranous. Leaf-blades 20–60 cm long; 6–8 mm wide; light green; aromatic. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; rough on both sides; glabrous. Leaf-blade apex attenuate; filiform.

INFLORESCENCE Synflorescence compound; paniculate; 60 cm long; lax. Inflorescence composed of racemes; terminal and axillary; subtended by a spatheole; enclosed. Spatheole elliptic; 0.9–1.6 cm long; glabrous. Peduncle 0.4 cm long; pilose above.

Racemes 2; paired; deflexed; 1 cm long. Rhachis fragile at the nodes; semiterete; pilose on surface; ciliate on margins. Rhachis internodes linear; 1.5 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; 1.5 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 equalling fertile.

Companion sterile spikelets well-developed; male; lanceolate; 2–2.5 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; 3.5 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures. Spikelet callus 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 intercarinal veins distinct; 2 in number. Lower glume surface flat; smooth, or wrinkled. 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; 9 mm long overall; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn glabrous. Palea absent or minute.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; 1.5 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: Malesia.

NOTES Andropogoneae. Soenarko 1993.

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