Cymbopogon osmastonii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 60–120 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Culm-nodes glabrous. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5–1 mm long. Leaf-blade base broadly rounded, or cordate. Leaf-blades 9–18 cm long; 7–10 mm wide; aromatic. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade apex attenuate; filiform.

INFLORESCENCE Synflorescence compound; linear; 15–25 cm long; lax. Inflorescence composed of racemes; terminal and axillary; subtended by a spatheole; enclosed. Spatheole elliptic; 0.8–1.4 cm long; green, or red; glabrous. Peduncle 0.8–1 cm long.

Racemes 2; paired; deflexed; 0.7–1 cm long. Rhachis fragile at the nodes; semiterete; glabrous on surface; ciliate on margins. Rhachis internodes linear; 1.75 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; 1.75 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; lanceolate; 3 mm long; as long as fertile; deciduous with the fertile. Companion sterile spikelet glumes chartaceous; 9 -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; 2.5–3 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 elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; chartaceous; 2-keeled; keeled all along; keeled laterally; winged on keel; winged broadly, or moderately. Lower glume intercarinal veins absent. Lower glume surface with V-shaped depression; impressed below. Upper glume lanceolate; 1-keeled; keeled above; winged on keel; winged above; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret elliptic; 2–2.5 mm long; hyaline; 2 -veined; ciliolate on margins. Fertile lemma lanceolate; hyaline; without keel. Lemma apex lobed; 2 -fid; muticous, or awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; straight; 0–2 mm long overall; without a column. Palea absent or minute.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1–1.5 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: India.

NOTES Andropogoneae. Soenarko 1993.

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