Mnesithea laevis

HABIT Perennial. Culms erect; 50–100 cm long. Culm-internodes solid. Lateral branches ample. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 8–35 cm long; 3–5 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes; embraced at base by subtending leaf.

Racemes 1; single; smoothly terete; 10–20 cm long. Rhachis subcylindrical and excavated. Spikelet packing abaxial. Rhachis internodes cuneate; 3–5 mm long. Rhachis internode tip transverse; crateriform.

Spikelets sunken; in threes (or paired towards tip of raceme). Fertile spikelets sessile; 2 in the cluster. Companion sterile spikelets pedicelled; 1 in the cluster. Pedicels fused to internode; united at tip; linear.

STERILE SPIKELETS Companion sterile spikelets rudimentary; orbicular; dorsally compressed; 0.5–1 mm long; shorter than fertile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; dorsally compressed; 3.5–5 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures. Spikelet callus base truncate; with central peg; attached transversely.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblong; 1 length of spikelet; indurate; without keels. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume oblong; cartilaginous; without keels. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret lanceolate; hyaline. Fertile lemma lanceolate; 2.5–4 mm long; hyaline; without keel; 0 -veined.

FLOWER Lodicules absent. Anthers 3; 2.5–3 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; oblong; biconvex; 2 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China and eastern Asia. Asia-tropical: India, Indo-China, and Malesia. Pacific: northwestern.

NOTES Andropogoneae. Bor.

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