Saccharum coarctatum

HABIT Perennial. Culms erect; 35–150 cm long. Culm-nodes glabrous, or pubescent, or bearded. Leaf-sheaths keeled; glabrous on surface. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blades 3–10 mm wide; 2–3 cm long at summit of culm. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle with branches tipped by a raceme.

Panicle open; elliptic; 20–27 cm long; 2.5–4 cm wide.

Rhachis fragile at the nodes; angular; pubescent on surface. Rhachis internodes linear; 4 mm long.

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

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 7–8 mm long; falling entire; deciduous from the base, or with accessory branch structures. Spikelet callus bearded; base truncate. Spikelet callus hairs 0.5 length of spikelet.

GLUMES Glumes similar; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 1 length of spikelet; cartilaginous; 2-keeled; 5 -veined. Lower glume surface flat; asperulous; glabrous, or hirsute (sparsely). Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 1 length of spikelet; cartilaginous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume surface asperulous; glabrous. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret lanceolate; hyaline; acute. Fertile lemma lanceolate; 4–5 mm long; hyaline; 3 -veined. Lemma apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn straight; subterete below; 15–23 mm long overall.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate. Anthers 3.

DISTRIBUTION North America: southeast USA.

NOTES Andropogoneae. Man US Gr 1997.

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