Heteropogon fischerianus

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 30–40 cm long. Leaves cauline (middle third of culm); distichous. Leaf-sheaths 2.5 cm long; keeled; striately veined. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 1 mm long. Leaf-blades conduplicate; 2.5–7 cm long; 2–4 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade surface glabrous; hairless except near base. Leaf-blade margins cartilaginous; scabrous; tuberculate-ciliate; hairy at base.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; erect; unilateral; 4–5 cm long. Rhachis fragile at the nodes. Rhachis internodes linear. Rhachis internode tip oblique.

Spikelets appressed; in pairs. Fertile spikelets sessile; 1 in the cluster. Companion sterile spikelets pedicelled; 1 in the cluster. Pedicels oblong; semiterete; 0.3 mm long; 0.05 length of fertile spikelet.

STERILE SPIKELETS Basal sterile spikelets well-developed; 8–12 in number; larger than fertile. Basal sterile spikelet lower glume muticous.

Companion sterile spikelets well-developed; male; lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 7–8 mm long; longer than fertile; separately deciduous. Companion sterile spikelet callus linear; 1.5 mm long; truncate. Companion sterile spikelet glumes chartaceous; eglandular; winged on margins; smooth; glabrous; acute; muticous. Companion sterile spikelet lemmas 2; enclosed by glumes.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets linear; subterete; 8.5–9 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures. Spikelet callus linear; curved; 2.5 mm long; bearded; base pungent; attached obliquely. Spikelet callus hairs dark brown.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; with lower wider than upper; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume linear; 1 length of spikelet; coriaceous; dark brown; without keels. Lower glume surface grooved on either side of midvein; pubescent. Lower glume apex truncate. Upper glume linear; coriaceous; without keels. Upper glume muticous.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret lanceolate; 1 length of fertile lemma; hyaline; 0 -veined; without lateral veins; erose. Fertile lemma linear; 2–3 mm long; membranous; 1 -veined. Lemma apex entire; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn apical; geniculate; 40–70 mm long overall; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn pubescent. Palea absent or minute.

FLOWER Anthers 3. Stigmas 2.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: India.

NOTES Andropogoneae. Deshpande.

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