Dichanthium jainii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 100–150 cm long; 5–8 -noded. Culm-internodes smooth; distally glabrous. Culm-nodes bearded. Leaf-sheaths 15–25 cm long; pilose; with tubercle-based hairs. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2–5 mm long; lacerate; obtuse. Leaf-blades 30–65 cm long; 8–15 mm wide. Leaf-blade midrib conspicuous. Leaf-blade surface pilose; hairy on both sides; with tubercle-based hairs. Leaf-blade margins scabrous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 3–15; digitate, or borne along a central axis; 5–10 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 2–14 cm long. Rhachis fragile at the nodes; ciliate on margins. Rhachis internodes linear. Rhachis internode tip transverse.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets sessile; 1 in the cluster. Companion sterile spikelets pedicelled; 1 in the cluster. Pedicels linear; 3 mm long; without a translucent median line; ciliate.

STERILE SPIKELETS Companion sterile spikelets well-developed; male; lanceolate; 6.5–9 mm long; longer than fertile. Companion sterile spikelet glumes ciliate on margins. 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; 5.25–6.25 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. Lower glume surface with a longitudinal median groove. Lower glume margins ciliate. Upper glume lanceolate; 1 length of spikelet; chartaceous; with hyaline margins; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume margins ciliate.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret oblong; 4–4.8 mm long; hyaline; ciliate on margins; fringed above. Fertile lemma linear; 3–3.8 mm long; hyaline; without keel; 1 -veined. Lemma apex entire; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn apical; geniculate; 20–23 mm long overall; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn glabrous. Palea absent or minute.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 3 mm long; yellow.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: India.

NOTES Andropogoneae. Desh. & Hem. 1999.

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