Dimeria ballardii

HABIT Perennial; mat forming. Culms 25–50 cm long. Leaves cauline. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 3–10 cm long; 2–5 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 2; paired; sinuous; unilateral; 3–7 cm long. Rhachis angular; glabrous on margins. Spikelet packing crowded; regular; 2 -rowed.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels cuneate; flattened; 1–1.5(–3) mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; compressed strongly; 5.5–7.5 mm long; falling entire. Spikelet callus pubescent; base obtuse.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; coriaceous; 1-keeled; winged on keel; winged narrowly; winged all along; 3 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous; eciliate. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic; coriaceous; with hyaline margins; 1-keeled; winged on keel; winged all along; 3 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scabrous; eciliate. Upper glume apex acute, or acuminate.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret lanceolate; 4 mm long; hyaline; ciliolate on margins. Fertile lemma elliptic; 4.5 mm long; without keel; 1 -veined. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; geniculate; 6–11 mm long overall; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn glabrous. Palea absent or minute.

FLOWER Anthers 2.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: India.

NOTES Andropogoneae. WDC.

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