Cymbopogon tungmaiensis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 100–120 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades filiform, or linear; flat, or conduplicate; 15–30 cm long; 2–3 mm wide; aromatic.

INFLORESCENCE Synflorescence compound; linear; 20–30 cm long; lax. Inflorescence composed of racemes; terminal and axillary; subtended by a spatheole; enclosed.

Racemes 2; paired; deflexed; 2–3 cm long; bearing 5–8 fertile spikelets on each. Rhachis fragile at the nodes; semiterete; ciliate on margins. Rhachis internodes linear. 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 linear; semiterete; ciliate; hairy on margins.

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; 6 mm long; as long as fertile; deciduous with the fertile. Companion sterile spikelet glumes chartaceous; distinctly 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 oblong; dorsally compressed; 6 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 oblong; 1 length of spikelet; chartaceous; 2-keeled; keeled all along; keeled laterally; winged on keel; winged narrowly; winged above. Lower glume intercarinal veins distinct. Lower glume surface concave. 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; 10–12 mm long overall; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn glabrous. Palea absent or minute.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China.

NOTES Andropogoneae. Fl Xizang 1996.

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