Phacelurus speciosus

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes elongated. Culms 30–150 cm long. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blades conduplicate, or convolute; 10–45 cm long; (1–)3–9(–15) mm wide; mid-green, or glaucous. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pilose; with simple hairs, or tubercle-based hairs.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1–5(–9); single, or digitate; 6–15(–20) cm long. Central inflorescence axis 0–5 cm long. Rhachis semiterete; glabrous on surface, or pubescent on surface. Rhachis internodes clavate. Rhachis internode tip transverse; flat.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets sessile; 1 in the cluster. Companion sterile spikelets pedicelled; 1 in the cluster. Pedicels clavate; semiterete; glabrous, or pubescent.

STERILE SPIKELETS Companion sterile spikelets well-developed; male; ovate; laterally compressed; 4–7 mm long; shorter than fertile; separately deciduous. Companion sterile spikelet callus indistinct. Companion sterile spikelet lemmas 2; enclosed by glumes.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; dorsally compressed; 4.5–8.5 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 ovate; 1 length of spikelet; coriaceous; 2-keeled. Lower glume primary vein spinulose. Lower glume surface flat; glabrous to villous. Lower glume apex emarginate, or obtuse. Upper glume oblong; chartaceous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret hyaline. Fertile lemma lanceolate; hyaline; without keel. Palea hyaline.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: western Asia. Asia-tropical: India.

NOTES Andropogoneae. Fl Pak.

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