Saccharum strictum

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes elongated. Culms erect; robust; 100–200 cm long. Culm-internodes hollow. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 20–55 cm long; 4.5–20 mm wide. Leaf-blade midrib widened (0.5–2mm). Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough on both sides. Leaf-blade margins scaberulous. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

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

Panicle open; linear, or lanceolate; 10–20 cm long; 1–1.5 cm wide.

Racemes 2.5–6 cm long. 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; 1–2 mm long; ciliate.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 4.5–5.5 mm long; falling entire; deciduous from the base, or with accessory branch structures. Spikelet callus bearded; base truncate. Spikelet callus hairs white; 3.5–5.5 mm long; 1 length of spikelet.

GLUMES Glumes similar; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 1 length of spikelet; cartilaginous; much thinner above; red; 2-keeled. Lower glume surface flat. Lower glume margins ciliate. Lower glume apex obtuse, or acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 1 length of spikelet; coriaceous; much thinner above; without keels. Upper glume margins ciliate. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret lanceolate; 5 mm long; hyaline; ciliolate on margins; acute. Fertile lemma linear; 5 mm long; hyaline. Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 2–6 mm long overall. Palea absent or minute.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; ciliate. Anthers 3.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: southeastern. Asia-temperate: western Asia.

NOTES Andropogoneae. Fl Turk 1993.

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