Cymbopogon minor

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 60–70 cm long; wiry. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1.3–2 mm long. Leaf-blades 20 cm long; 1–2 mm wide; light green; aromatic. Leaf-blade surface smooth; glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Synflorescence compound; paniculate; 20–30 cm long; lax. Inflorescence composed of racemes; terminal and axillary; subtended by a spatheole; embraced at base by subtending leaf. Spatheole linear; 1.2–1.5 cm long; red.

Racemes 2; paired; deflexed. Rhachis fragile at the nodes; ciliate on margins. Rhachis hairs lengthening towards internode tip; 2–3 mm long. Rhachis internodes linear. Rhachis internode tip transverse; cupuliform; with lobed rim. Raceme-bases linear; subequal.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets sessile; 1 in the cluster. Companion sterile spikelets pedicelled; 1 in the cluster. Pedicels linear; ciliate; hairy all along but hairs longer above; with 2–3 mm long hairs.

STERILE SPIKELETS Basal sterile spikelets rudimentary; 1 in number (lower raceme); 0 in upper raceme; linear.

Companion sterile spikelets represented by single glumes; linear; 0.5–2.5 mm long; shorter than fertile; deciduous with the fertile. Companion sterile spikelet glumes chartaceous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; dorsally compressed; 3.8–4 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures. Spikelet callus pubescent; base obtuse; inserted.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume elliptic, or oblong; 1 length of spikelet; chartaceous; 2-keeled; keeled laterally. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume intercarinal veins distinct; 2–4 in number. Lower glume surface concave. Upper glume lanceolate; 1-keeled. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret oblong; hyaline. Fertile lemma lanceolate; without keel. Lemma apex lobed; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; geniculate; 12–13 mm long overall; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn glabrous. Palea absent or minute.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China.

NOTES Andropogoneae. Fl China 2007.

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