Cymbopogon xichangensis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 100–250 cm long; 3–5 mm diam.; 3–4 -noded. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1.5 mm long; membranous; erose; obtuse. Leaf-blades 30–60 cm long; 5–12 mm wide; aromatic.

INFLORESCENCE Synflorescence compound; paniculate; 80–180 cm long; open. Inflorescence composed of racemes; terminal and axillary; subtended by a spatheole; enclosed. Spatheole elliptic; 4–5 cm long; glabrous.

Racemes 2; paired; 3–4 cm long; bearing 4–6 fertile spikelets on each. Rhachis fragile at the nodes; semiterete; ciliate on margins. Rhachis internodes linear. Rhachis internode tip transverse; cupuliform. Raceme-bases flattened; subequal.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets sessile; 1 in the cluster. Companion sterile spikelets pedicelled; 1 in the cluster. Pedicels linear; semiterete; ciliate; hairy on margins; with 1.5 mm long hairs.

STERILE SPIKELETS Basal sterile spikelets well-developed; 2 in number (lower raceme); 0 in upper raceme; with normal internodes; sessile and pedicelled. Basal sterile spikelet pedicels free; linear. Basal sterile spikelets equalling fertile.

Companion sterile spikelets well-developed; containing empty lemmas, or male; lanceolate; 6–8 mm long; shorter than fertile, or as long as fertile; deciduous with the fertile. Companion sterile spikelet glumes chartaceous; distinctly veined; acute; muticous. Companion sterile spikelet lemmas 2; enclosed by glumes.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 7–9 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures. Spikelet callus pilose; base obtuse; inserted.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 1 length of spikelet; chartaceous; 2-keeled; keeled all along; keeled laterally; winged on keel; winged narrowly. Lower glume intercarinal veins distinct; 2–4 in number. Lower glume surface concave; smooth. Upper glume lanceolate; 1-keeled. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret hyaline; ciliate on margins. Fertile lemma linear; hyaline; without keel. Lemma apex lobed; 2 -fid; incised 0.5 of lemma length; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; geniculate; 12 mm long overall; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn glabrous. Palea absent or minute.

FLOWER Lodicules 2. Anthers 3; 2 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China.

NOTES Andropogoneae. Zhang & Sun 2006.

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