Glyphochloa ratnagirica

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Culms geniculately ascending; 15–35 cm long; 2–5 -noded. Culm-internodes channelled; distally glabrous, or pilose. Culm-nodes constricted; brown; bearded. Lateral branches ample. Leaf-sheaths mostly shorter than adjacent culm internode; striately veined; pilose; with tubercle-based hairs. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2 mm long; scarious; obtuse. Leaf-blades 3–10 cm long; 2–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pilose; with tubercle-based hairs. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes; terminal and axillary. Peduncle pilose above.

Racemes 1; single; unilateral; 3–6 cm long. Rhachis fragile at the nodes; subcylindrical and excavated; ciliate on margins. Spikelet packing abaxial. Rhachis internodes cuneate; 2.5–3.2 mm long. Rhachis internode tip transverse; crateriform; with hairy rim.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets sessile; 1 in the cluster. Companion sterile spikelets pedicelled; 1 in the cluster. Pedicels fused to internode; united wholly; flattened; 2.5–3.2 mm long; pubescent.

STERILE SPIKELETS Companion sterile spikelets well-developed; male; oblong; asymmetrical; 4–5 mm long; shorter than fertile; deciduous with the fertile. Companion sterile spikelet glumes coriaceous; winged on keels; 3–5 -veined; acuminate; awned; one glume awned; with 3.5–8 mm long awn. Companion sterile spikelet lemmas 2; enclosed by glumes; 2.5–3 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; dorsally compressed; 5–6 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures. Spikelet callus glabrous; base truncate; with central peg; inserted.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblong; 1 length of spikelet; indurate; 2-keeled; keeled laterally; winged on keel (1 keel); winged broadly; winged above; 5–6 -veined. Lower glume surface asperulous. Lower glume apex lobed; 2 -fid; acute; awned; 2 -awned. Lower glume awn 3–5 mm long. Upper glume lanceolate, or ovate; 2.5–4 mm long; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume surface puberulous; hairy at base. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret lanceolate, or elliptic; 2.25–3 mm long; hyaline; 2 -veined; obtuse. Palea of lower sterile floret 2–3.1 mm long. Fertile lemma lanceolate, or ovate; 2.1–2.75 mm long; hyaline; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma surface scaberulous. Palea lanceolate; 2.5–3 mm long; 2 -veined.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; 0.5 mm long; fleshy; truncate. Anthers 3; 1.8–2.5 mm long; yellow, or purple. Stigmas purple.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid; 1.3 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: India.

NOTES Andropogoneae. Kulk & Hem 1998.

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