Glyphochloa maharashtraensis

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; slender; 10–20 cm long. Culm-internodes terete. Lateral branches lacking, or sparse. Branch complement constant. Leaf-sheaths 2–4 cm long; pilose; with tubercle-based hairs. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1–1.5 mm long. Leaf-blades 4–10 cm long; 2–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface hirsute; densely hairy; with tubercle-based hairs. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes; terminal and axillary. Peduncle glabrous, or hirsute above.

Racemes 1; single; unilateral; 3–5 cm long. Rhachis fragile at the nodes; subcylindrical and excavated. Spikelet packing abaxial. Rhachis internodes cuneate; 1.5–2 mm long. Rhachis internode tip transverse; crateriform.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets sessile; 1 in the cluster. Companion sterile spikelets pedicelled; 1 in the cluster. Pedicels fused to internode; united wholly; flattened; ciliate; hairy on margins.

STERILE SPIKELETS Companion sterile spikelets well-developed; male; ovate; asymmetrical; 4–4.5 mm long; longer than fertile; deciduous with the fertile. Companion sterile spikelet glumes coriaceous; winged on keels; 5–7 -veined; acuminate; awned; both glumes awned; with 3–8 mm long awn. Companion sterile spikelet lemmas 2; enclosed by glumes; 2–4 mm long; muticous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; 2–3 mm long; 1.3–1.6 mm wide; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures. Spikelet callus base truncate; with central peg; inserted.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume elliptic; 2–3 mm long; 1 length of spikelet; indurate; 2-keeled; keeled laterally; winged on keel; winged broadly; winged above; 7–9 -veined. Lower glume surface rugose; pubescent; hairy below. Lower glume apex lobed; 2 -fid; acute; awned; 2 -awned. Lower glume awn 4–6 mm long. Upper glume elliptic; 2–2.5 mm long; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret ovate; 2–2.3 mm long; hyaline; 0 -veined; without lateral veins; ciliolate on margins; obtuse. Palea of lower sterile floret 1.5 mm long. Fertile lemma ovate; 1.2–1.8 mm long; 0.5–0.6 mm wide; hyaline; without keel; 0 -veined. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea ovate; 1.5–1.7 mm long. Palea apex acute.

FLOWER Lodicules 2. Anthers 3; 0.6–0.8 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid; 0.8–1 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: India.

NOTES Andropogoneae. Potdar & Yadav 2012.

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