Dichanthium foulkesii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 20–80 cm long. Culm-nodes glabrous. Leaf-sheaths keeled. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blades 10–25 cm long; 2–5 mm wide; mid-green, or glaucous. Leaf-blade midrib conspicuous. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or hispid. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 3–6; digitate; 3–8 cm long. Rhachis fragile at the nodes; flattened; ciliate on margins. Rhachis hairs lengthening towards internode tip. Rhachis internodes linear; 2.5–3 mm long. Raceme-bases filiform; 10 mm long; hirsute; hairy at base.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets sessile; 1 in the cluster. Companion sterile spikelets pedicelled; 1 in the cluster. Pedicels linear; 2–3 mm long; without a translucent median line; ciliate; hairy all along but hairs longer above.

STERILE SPIKELETS Basal sterile spikelets absent.

Companion sterile spikelets well-developed; male; elliptic; 5–6 mm long; longer than fertile; separately deciduous. Companion sterile spikelet glumes 7–9 -veined; ciliate on margins. Companion sterile spikelet lemmas enclosed by glumes; muticous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; dorsally compressed; 4–5 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures. Spikelet callus pilose; base obtuse; attached transversely.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblong; 1 length of spikelet; chartaceous; without keels; keel-less except near apex; 7–9 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume surface flat, or concave. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume margins ciliate. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret oblong; 3.5–4 mm long; hyaline; 3–5 -veined; obscurely veined. Fertile lemma linear; 2–3 mm long; hyaline; without keel; 1 -veined. Lemma apex entire; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn apical; geniculate; 15–25 mm long overall; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn 6–8 mm long; glabrous. Palea absent or minute.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1–2 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: India.

NOTES Andropogoneae. Nair 1993.

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