Saccharum beccarii

HABIT Perennial. Culms erect; robust; 150–300 cm long; 4–8 mm diam. Culm-internodes solid. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 10–30 cm long; 20–40 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle with branches tipped by a raceme.

Panicle open; ovate; 20–40 cm long.

Racemes 1–2 cm long; bearing 7–17 fertile spikelets on each. Rhachis fragile at the nodes; subterete. Rhachis internodes filiform; 2–3.5 mm long. Rhachis internode tip clavate.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets sessile and pedicelled; 2 in the cluster; subequal. Pedicels filiform; 1.3–2.3 mm long; tip widened.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 3–4 mm long; falling entire; deciduous from the base, or with accessory branch structures. Spikelet callus bearded; base truncate. Spikelet callus hairs red; 6 mm long; 1.5–2 length of spikelet.

GLUMES Glumes reaching apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblong; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 7 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins ribbed. Lower glume margins ciliolate (above). Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume lanceolate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 1-keeled; 7 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins ribbed. Upper glume margins ciliate. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret oblong; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 3 -veined; distinctly veined; truncate. Fertile lemma oblong; 3–4 mm long; hyaline. Lemma apex lobed; 2 -fid; incised 0.5 of lemma length; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; flexuous; 8–12 mm long overall; with a straight or slightly twisted column. Palea 1 length of lemma; hyaline.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: Malesia.

NOTES Andropogoneae. WDC.

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