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Descriptions

W.D. Clayton, M. Vorontsova, K.T. Harman & H. Williamson

© Copyright The Board of Trustees, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Imperata cheesemanii

HABIT Perennial. Basal innovations extravaginal. Culms 30–40 cm long; 3 -noded. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Leaf-sheath oral hairs bearded. Ligule an eciliate membrane; truncate. Leaf-blades 15–30 cm long; 12–20 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade margins scabrous. Leaf-blade apex acute, or acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle with branches tipped by a raceme.

Panicle contracted, or spiciform; lanceolate; 6–13 cm long; 2–3 cm wide. Primary panicle branches 0.5–2.5 cm long. Panicle axis villous.

Racemes bearing few fertile spikelets. Rhachis tough; subterete. Rhachis internodes filiform.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled; 2 in the cluster. Pedicels clavate; unequal; plumose; hairy at tip.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 3 mm long; falling entire. Spikelet callus bearded; base truncate. Spikelet callus hairs white; 6–8 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes similar; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins obscure. Lower glume surface villous; hairy generally. Upper glume lanceolate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume surface villous; hairy at apex.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to fertile lemma; oblong; 0.66 length of spikelet; hyaline; 0 -veined; without midvein; without lateral veins; erose; obtuse. Fertile lemma ovate; 2 mm long; hyaline; without keel; 0 -veined. Lemma apex dentate; 3 -fid. Palea hyaline; 0 -veined; without keels.

FLOWER Lodicules absent. Anthers 1. Stigmas 2; terminally exserted.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: New Zealand.

NOTES Andropogoneae. Fl NZ 1994.

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