Ischaemum bombaiense

HABIT Annual. Culms 15–30 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Lateral branches sparse. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface, or pilose; with tubercle-based hairs; outer margin hairy. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2–3 mm long. Leaf-blade base with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath; petiole pubescent. Leaf-blades 6–12 cm long; 4–7 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pilose; hairy on both sides; with tubercle-based hairs. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes; subtended by a spatheole; exserted (terminal), or enclosed (lateral). Spatheole lanceolate; 7–8 cm long.

Racemes 2; paired; appressed back to back; 5–7 cm long. Rhachis fragile at the nodes; angular; ciliate on margins. Rhachis internodes cuneate; 7 mm long; flat and forming a U or V shape with the pedicel in rear view. Rhachis internode tip transverse; cupuliform.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets sessile; 1 in the cluster. Companion sterile spikelets pedicelled; 1 in the cluster. Pedicels oblong; 1.5 mm long; 0.2 length of fertile spikelet; ciliate.

STERILE SPIKELETS Companion sterile spikelets well-developed; male; oblong; 7.5 mm long; as long as fertile; separately deciduous. Companion sterile spikelet glumes chartaceous; keeled; winged on margins; muricate (on keel); muticous. Companion sterile spikelet lemmas 1-awned; with 20 mm long awn.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; dorsally compressed; 8 mm long; 3–3.5 mm wide; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures. Spikelet callus oblong; base truncate; inserted.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblong; 1 length of spikelet; coriaceous; much thinner above; 2-keeled; keeled all along; keeled laterally. Lower glume surface convex; rugose; rough below. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; coriaceous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume surface rugose (on keel); rough below. Upper glume margins scabrous.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret oblong; 8 mm long; membranous; acute. Fertile lemma oblong; 6 mm long; membranous; without keel. Lemma apex lobed; 2 -fid; incised 0.5 of lemma length; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; geniculate; 20 mm long overall; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn 8 mm long; glabrous. Palea 6 mm long.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 2.75–3 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: India.

NOTES Andropogoneae. Bor 1994.

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