Ratzeburgia pulcherrima

HABIT Perennial. Stolons present. Culms 10–30 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 2–8 cm long; 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex obtuse.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; 4–8 cm long. Rhachis fragile at the nodes; angular; pubescent on margins. Rhachis internodes linear; together with the pedicel framing edges of sessile spikelets. Rhachis internode tip transverse; crateriform.

Spikelets squeezed between internode and pedicel; in threes. Fertile spikelets sessile; 2 in the cluster. Companion sterile spikelets pedicelled; 1 in the cluster. Pedicels linear; angular; pubescent.

STERILE SPIKELETS Companion sterile spikelets rudimentary.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; dorsally compressed; compressed strongly; 5.5 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures. Spikelet callus base truncate; with central boss; attached transversely.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblong; 1 length of spikelet; indurate; 2-keeled; winged on keel; winged broadly; winged near apex. Lower glume primary vein tuberculate (muricate). Lower glume surface cancellate. Upper glume oblong; coriaceous; 2-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret oblong; hyaline; 0 -veined; without midvein; without lateral veins; acute. Fertile lemma oblong; hyaline; without keel; 2 -veined. Lemma margins ciliolate; hairy all along. Lemma apex acute. Palea absent or minute.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: Indo-China.

NOTES Andropogoneae. WDC.

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