Saccharum brevibarbe

HABIT Perennial. Culms erect; robust; 150–200 cm long; 9–10 -noded. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Culm-nodes pubescent. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface, or pubescent. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blades 30–60 cm long; 10–15 mm wide; 20–30 cm long at summit of culm. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle with branches tipped by a raceme. Peduncle glabrous.

Panicle open; lanceolate; dense; 20–35 cm long.

Racemes 3–4 cm long. Rhachis fragile at the nodes; subterete; pilose on surface. Rhachis internodes linear; 4 mm long.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets sessile and pedicelled; 2 in the cluster; subequal. Pedicels linear; 4 mm long; ciliate.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 6–7 mm long; falling entire; deciduous from the base, or with accessory branch structures. Spikelet callus bearded; base truncate. Spikelet callus hairs 0.66 length of spikelet.

GLUMES Glumes similar; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 1 length of spikelet; cartilaginous; 2-keeled; 5 -veined. Lower glume surface flat; glabrous. Lower glume margins eciliate, or ciliolate. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 1 length of spikelet; cartilaginous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret lanceolate; hyaline; acute. Fertile lemma lanceolate; 4 mm long; hyaline; 3 -veined. Lemma apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn straight; subterete below; 15–16 mm long overall.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate. Anthers 3.

DISTRIBUTION North America: north-central USA, south-central USA, and southeast USA.

NOTES Andropogoneae. Man US Gr 1994.

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