Saccharum maximum

HABIT Perennial. Culms erect; robust; 200–500 cm long. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blades 35–70 cm long; 20–30 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle with branches tipped by a raceme.

Panicle open; ovate; 30–40 cm long.

Rhachis fragile at the nodes; subterete; pilose on surface. Rhachis internodes linear; 1.1–1.2 length of fertile spikelet.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets sessile and pedicelled; 2 in the cluster; subequal. Pedicels linear; 0.5 length of internode; ciliate.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 4–4.5 mm long; falling entire; deciduous from the base, or with accessory branch structures. Spikelet callus bearded; base truncate. Spikelet callus hairs white; 1.5–2 length of spikelet.

GLUMES Glumes similar; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 1 length of spikelet; coriaceous; much thinner above; 2-keeled. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume surface flat; glabrous. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 1 length of spikelet; coriaceous; much thinner above; without keels; 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; mucronate. Fertile lemma linear; hyaline; 1 -veined. Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn curved; 0.5–4 mm long overall. Palea 0.5 length of lemma. Palea keels ciliolate.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate. Anthers 3.

DISTRIBUTION Pacific: southwestern and south-central.

NOTES Andropogoneae. Brown 1994.

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