Euclasta clarkei

HABIT Annual. Culms prostrate; 10–45 cm long; rooting from lower nodes. Ligule a ciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 5–7 cm long; 3–5 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes. Peduncle flexuous.

Racemes 1; single; arcuate; 2.5–5 cm long. Rhachis fragile at the nodes; flattened; 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; flattened; with a translucent median line (also present in internodes); ciliate.

STERILE SPIKELETS Basal sterile spikelets well-developed; 4 in number; barren; 4.5–6 mm long; larger than fertile. Basal sterile spikelet glumes glabrous.

Companion sterile spikelets well-developed; containing empty lemmas; oblong; 4.5–6 mm long; longer than fertile; separately deciduous. Companion sterile spikelet glumes herbaceous; distinctly veined; 8–11 -veined; scabrous; glabrous; acute. Companion sterile spikelet lemmas enclosed by glumes; muticous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; 3.5–4 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 elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; coriaceous; without keels; keel-less except near apex; winged on margins; winged near apex; 5 -veined. Lower glume surface flat; pilose. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume lanceolate; coriaceous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret oblong; 3.5 mm long; hyaline; 0 -veined; ciliate on margins. Fertile lemma linear; hyaline; without keel; 1 -veined. Lemma apex entire; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn geniculate; 25 mm long overall; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn glabrous. Palea absent or minute.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: Arabia. Asia-tropical: India.

NOTES Andropogoneae. Bor.

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