Dimeria stapfiana

HABIT Annual. Culms erect; slender; 20–45 cm long. Culm-nodes bearded. Lateral branches sparse. Leaf-sheaths pilose; with tubercle-based hairs. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 1 mm long. Leaf-blades 3–7 cm long; 2–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough on both sides; pilose; hairy on both sides; with tubercle-based hairs. Leaf-blade margins scabrous; tuberculate-ciliate. Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 4–7; digitate; unilateral; 5–10 cm long. Rhachis subterete; glabrous on margins. Spikelet packing lax; regular; 2 -rowed.

Spikelets spreading; solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels clavate; flattened; 0.5–2 mm long; glabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; compressed strongly; 4–7 mm long; falling entire. Spikelet callus oblong; 0.5 mm long; bearded; base obtuse.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblong; 4–6 mm long; 0.8 length of spikelet; coriaceous; much thinner on margins; 1-keeled. Lower glume surface pubescent. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; coriaceous; with hyaline margins; 1-keeled; winged on keel; winged above. Upper glume surface pilose; hairy at apex. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret lanceolate; 2 mm long; hyaline; ciliate on margins. Fertile lemma elliptic; 3 mm long; hyaline; without keel; 1 -veined. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; geniculate; 14 mm long overall; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn 5 mm long; glabrous. Palea absent or minute.

FLOWER Anthers 2; 2.5–3 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: India.

NOTES Andropogoneae. Bor 1993.

ADDITIONAL CHARACTERS Glume wing corky.

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