Ischaemum molle

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 25–130 cm long. Culm-nodes bearded. Lateral branches ample. Leaf-sheaths pilose; with tubercle-based hairs. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blade base broadly rounded, or cordate; with a false petiole (upper leaves); petiole pubescent. Leaf-blades 15–30 cm long; 6–13 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pilose; sparsely hairy; with tubercle-based hairs.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes; terminal and axillary.

Racemes 2; paired; appressed back to back; 4–14 cm long. Rhachis fragile at the nodes; angular; ciliate on margins. Rhachis internodes oblong; 3–4 mm long. Rhachis internode tip transverse; cupuliform.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets sessile; 1 in the cluster. Companion sterile spikelets pedicelled; 1 in the cluster. Pedicels oblong; 1–2 mm long; 0.25–0.33 length of internode; ciliate.

STERILE SPIKELETS Companion sterile spikelets well-developed; male; lanceolate, or oblong; asymmetrical; laterally compressed; 5–6 mm long; as long as fertile; separately deciduous. Companion sterile spikelet glumes chartaceous; keeled; winged on keels (1 keel). Companion sterile spikelet lemmas 2; enclosed by glumes; muticous, or 1-awned.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; dorsally compressed; 5–6 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures. Spikelet callus base truncate; inserted.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; coriaceous; much thinner above; 2-keeled; keeled all along; keeled laterally; 9–11 -veined. Lower glume surface flat; muricate; rough on flanks (or faintly rugose across back); glabrous, or pilose. Upper glume lanceolate; coriaceous; 1-keeled. Upper glume surface pilose; hairy above.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret oblong; 4.5–5.5 mm long; membranous; 3–5 -veined; ciliate on margins; fringed above. Fertile lemma oblong; 4–5 mm long; membranous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; geniculate; 12–20 mm long overall; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn glabrous.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 2–3 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: Arabia. Asia-tropical: India and Indo-China.

NOTES Andropogoneae. Fl Pak 1993.

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