Tripogon vellarianus

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Culms erect; 30–90 cm long. Culm-nodes glabrous. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths tight; smooth; glabrous on surface. Ligule absent. Leaf-blades 30–60 cm long; 8–15 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; unilateral; 30–40 cm long. Rhachis flattened; smooth on surface; glabrous on surface. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; regular; 2 -rowed.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 8–10 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 10–17 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 1.25–4 mm long; 0.8 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume lanceolate; 1.5–5 mm long; 0.75–1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 2.5 mm long; membranous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma apex entire; awned; 1 -awned, or 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn apical; 3 mm long overall. Lateral lemma awns 0–5 mm long. Palea 2–4 mm long; 2 -veined. Palea keels winged; narrowly winged; scaberulous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; 0.25 mm long. Anthers 3; 1.5 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: India.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Pradeep 2006.

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