Sorghum nitidum

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes absent. Culms erect; 100–200 cm long; wiry. Culm-nodes bearded. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 30–60 cm long; 4–15 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle with branches tipped by a raceme.

Panicle open; lanceolate; dense, or loose; 10–30 cm long. Primary panicle branches whorled at most nodes; moderately divided; 2–5 cm long. Panicle branches flexuous.

Racemes bearing few fertile spikelets; 2–4 fertile spikelets on each. Rhachis fragile at the nodes; ciliate on margins. Rhachis hairs red. Rhachis internodes filiform. Rhachis internode tip transverse; cupuliform.

Spikelets appressed; in pairs. Fertile spikelets sessile; 1 in the cluster. Companion sterile spikelets pedicelled; 1 in the cluster. Pedicels filiform; ciliate.

STERILE SPIKELETS Companion sterile spikelets well-developed; comprising 2 subequal glumes without lemmas, or male; ovate; dorsally compressed; 3–4.5 mm long; as long as fertile; separately deciduous. Companion sterile spikelet glumes chartaceous; acute; muticous. Companion sterile spikelet lemmas when present 2; enclosed by glumes; muticous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; dorsally compressed; acute; 3–4.5 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures. Spikelet callus bearded; base obtuse. Spikelet callus hairs red.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma; shiny. Lower glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; coriaceous; much thinner above; without keels; keel-less except near apex. Lower glume surface pubescent; hairy above. Lower glume hairs red. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; coriaceous; much thinner above; without keels. Upper glume surface pubescent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret lanceolate; hyaline; 2 -veined; ciliate on margins; acute. Fertile lemma ovate; hyaline; 1 -veined. Lemma margins ciliate. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; muticous, or awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; geniculate; 7–17 mm long overall; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn glabrous. Palea absent or minute.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; oblong; fleshy; ciliate; hairy across the apex. Anthers 3. Stigmas 2; laterally exserted.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China and eastern Asia. Asia-tropical: India, Indo-China, Malesia, and Papuasia. Australasia: Australia. Pacific: northwestern.

NOTES Andropogoneae. WDC.

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