Miscanthus violaceus

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 200–400 cm long. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blade base tapering to the midrib. Leaf-blades 100–300 cm long; 5–25 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle with branches tipped by a raceme.

Panicle open; elliptic; 25–40 cm long.

Racemes 1–7 cm long. Rhachis tough; subterete. Rhachis internodes filiform.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled; 2 in the cluster. Pedicels filiform; unequal.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 3–5 mm long; falling entire. Spikelet callus bearded; base truncate. Spikelet callus hairs white to purple; 0.5–1 length of spikelet.

GLUMES Glumes similar; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblong; 1 length of spikelet; coriaceous; without keels; 5 -veined. Lower glume surface flat; glabrous, or pilose. Lower glume margins ciliate. Lower glume apex dentate; 2 -fid. Upper glume lanceolate; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume surface glabrous, or pilose. Upper glume margins ciliate. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret oblong; 0.9 length of spikelet; hyaline; 1 -veined; ciliolate on margins; acute. Fertile lemma lanceolate; 1–2 mm long; hyaline; without keel; 1 -veined. Lemma margins ciliolate; hairy above. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; 1.5–6 mm long overall. Palea absent or minute.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: west-central tropical, east tropical, and southern tropical.

NOTES Andropogoneae. FTEA.

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