Arundinella ciliata

HABIT Annual. Culms erect; 30–60 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous, or pilose. Culm-nodes bearded. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths longer than adjacent culm internode; pilose; with tubercle-based hairs; outer margin hairy. Ligule an eciliate membrane, or a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blade base broadly rounded. Leaf-blades lanceolate, or oblong; 7–15 cm long; 7–14 mm wide; flaccid. Leaf-blade surface pilose; hairy adaxially, or on both sides; with tubercle-based hairs. Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; bearing juvenile spikelets at emergence.

Panicle contracted; linear; 5–12 cm long; contracted about primary branches. Primary panicle branches 1–3(–5) cm long. Panicle axis scabrous; glabrous, or pilose; with tubercle-based hairs.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled; 2 in the cluster. Pedicels glabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 3.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus bearded; obtuse.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; dissimilar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume elliptic; 2.5–3.5 mm long; 0.75–1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Lower glume surface pilose; hairy below; with tubercle-based hairs. Lower glume apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume elliptic; 3.5 mm long; 2.5–3 length of adjacent fertile lemma; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 1-keeled; 5 -veined. Upper glume surface pilose; hairy below; with tubercle-based hairs. Upper glume apex caudate.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male; with palea; persisting on inflorescence. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; elliptic, or oblong; 1.25–2.5 mm long; 0.5–0.75 length of spikelet; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined; acute; awned. Fertile lemma elliptic, or oblong; 1–1.5 mm long; coriaceous; pallid; without keel. Lemma lateral veins obscure. Lemma surface asperulous. Lemma margins involute; interlocking with palea keels. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; geniculate; 5–7 mm long overall; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn 2.5–3 mm long. Palea with auriculate flaps; coriaceous; 2 -veined. Palea surface asperulous.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3; 0.25–0.5 mm long. Stigmas 2.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: India.

NOTES Arundinelleae. Bor 1993.

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