Saccharum sikkimense

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 30–60 cm long. Ligule a ciliate membrane. Leaf-blade base tapering to the midrib. Leaf-blades 20–30 cm long; 4 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade midrib widened.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle with branches tipped by a raceme. Peduncle hirsute above.

Panicle open; linear; 10–20 cm long. Primary panicle branches appressed. Panicle axis villous.

Rhachis fragile at the nodes; subterete; pilose on surface. Rhachis internodes linear.

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

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 5 mm long; falling entire; deciduous from the base, or with accessory branch structures. Spikelet callus bearded; base truncate. Spikelet callus hairs purple; 2–3 mm long; 0.5 length of spikelet.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 1 length of spikelet; coriaceous; much thinner above; 2-keeled. Lower glume surface flat; pubescent; hairy generally. Lower glume apex emarginate. Upper glume lanceolate; 1 length of spikelet; chartaceous; much thinner above; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret lanceolate; hyaline; ciliolate on margins; acute. Fertile lemma linear, or lanceolate; hyaline; 1 -veined. Lemma margins ciliolate. Lemma apex entire; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn apical; curved; 3 mm long overall. Palea absent or minute.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; ciliate. Anthers 3.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: India.

NOTES Andropogoneae. Fl Brit Ind 1993.

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