Cymbopogon globosus

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths pubescent. Basal innovations extravaginal. Culms erect; 100–200 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 3–5 mm long. Leaf-blades 30–60 cm long; 3–7 mm wide; aromatic. Leaf-blade surface glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Synflorescence compound; globose; 10–20 cm long; dense. Inflorescence composed of racemes; terminal and axillary; subtended by a spatheole; enclosed. Spatheole lanceolate; 1.7–2.3 cm long; chartaceous. Peduncle pilose above.

Racemes 2; paired; erect; 1.5–2 cm long. Rhachis fragile at the nodes; semiterete; pilose on surface. Rhachis hairs 3–5 mm long. Rhachis internodes linear; 2.5 mm long. 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; 2.5 mm long; ciliate; with 3–5 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 smaller than fertile.

Companion sterile spikelets well-developed; comprising 2 subequal glumes without lemmas; linear; 4 mm long; as long as fertile; deciduous with the fertile. Companion sterile spikelet glumes chartaceous; glabrous; acute; muticous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 4 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures. Spikelet callus 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; wingless, or winged on keel; winged narrowly. Lower glume intercarinal veins distinct; 3–4 in number. Lower glume surface flat. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume lanceolate; 1-keeled. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret hyaline. Fertile lemma lanceolate; hyaline; without keel. Lemma apex lobed; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; geniculate; 12–19 mm long overall; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn glabrous. Palea absent or minute.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; obovoid; isodiametric; 1.5 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Andropogoneae. Soenarko 1993.

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