Heteropogon ritchiei

HABIT Annual. Culms 90–120 cm long. Leaf-sheaths keeled; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 4–6 mm long; brown; lacerate. Leaf-blades 15–45 cm long; 8–10 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pilose; sparsely hairy; hairy on both sides. Leaf-blade margins serrulate. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; erect; unilateral; 2.5–5 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; 0.2 mm long; 0.05 length of fertile spikelet.

STERILE SPIKELETS Basal sterile spikelets well-developed; 2–4 in number; larger than fertile. Basal sterile spikelet lower glume muticous.

Companion sterile spikelets well-developed; male; lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 10–13 mm long; longer than fertile; separately deciduous. Companion sterile spikelet callus linear; 1 mm long; truncate. Companion sterile spikelet glumes chartaceous; eglandular; winged on margins; tuberculate; setose; with yellow hairs (4–5mm long); 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; 4.5–6 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures. Spikelet callus linear; 2 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 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; 30–40 mm long overall; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn pubescent. Palea absent or minute.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 3.5–4 mm long. Stigmas 2.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: India.

NOTES Andropogoneae. Deshpande.

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