Cymbopogon winterianus

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 200–250 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades drooping; 50–100 cm long; 7–15 mm wide; light green; aromatic.

INFLORESCENCE Synflorescence compound; paniculate; 30–60 cm long; open (with zig-zag branching). Inflorescence composed of racemes; terminal and axillary; subtended by a spatheole; enclosed.

Racemes 2; paired; deflexed; 1–2 cm long. Rhachis fragile at the nodes; semiterete; ciliate on margins. Rhachis hairs 1–2 mm long. 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; with 1–2 mm long hairs.

STERILE SPIKELETS Basal sterile spikelets well-developed; 2 in number (lower raceme); 0 in upper raceme; sessile and pedicelled. Basal sterile spikelet pedicels free; linear. Basal sterile spikelets equalling fertile.

Companion sterile spikelets well-developed; male; elliptic; 5 mm long; as long as fertile; deciduous with the fertile. Companion sterile spikelet glumes chartaceous; 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; 4–5 mm long; 1 mm wide; 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 elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; 2-keeled; keeled laterally; winged on keel; winged narrowly. Lower glume intercarinal veins absent, or obscure; 0–3 in number. Lower glume surface flat, or 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 entire, or dentate; 2 -fid; muticous, or mucronate. Palea absent or minute.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China and eastern Asia. Asia-tropical: India, Indo-China, and Malesia. South America: Mesoamericana.

NOTES Andropogoneae. FTEA.

ADDITIONAL CHARACTERS Leaf-blades drooping for two thirds their length.

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