Cymbopogon densiflorus

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths withering. Culms robust; 100–200 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1–2 mm long. Leaf-blade base broadly rounded, or cordate. Leaf-blades linear, or lanceolate; 25–45 cm long; 8–30 mm wide; aromatic. Leaf-blade surface smooth.

INFLORESCENCE Synflorescence compound; paniculate (to obovate); 6–20 cm long; dense. Inflorescence composed of racemes; terminal and axillary; subtended by a spatheole; enclosed.

Racemes 2; paired; deflexed; 0.8–1.5 cm long. Rhachis fragile at the nodes; semiterete; ciliate on margins. Rhachis internodes linear. 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; ciliate.

STERILE SPIKELETS Basal sterile spikelets well-developed; 2 in number (lower raceme); 0 in upper raceme; sessile and pedicelled. Basal sterile spikelet pedicels fused to internode in lower raceme; swollen in lower raceme. Basal sterile spikelets equalling fertile.

Companion sterile spikelets well-developed; male; lanceolate; 2–3 mm long; shorter than fertile; deciduous with the fertile. Companion sterile spikelet glumes chartaceous; distinctly veined; acute; muticous. Companion sterile spikelet lemmas 2; enclosed by glumes.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; 3–4 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures. Spikelet callus pilose; base obtuse; inserted.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblong; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without oil streaks; 2-keeled; keeled laterally; winged on keel; winged narrowly. Lower glume intercarinal veins absent. Lower glume surface with V-shaped depression. Lower glume apex emarginate. 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 entire; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn apical; straight; 3.5–8 mm long overall; without a column. Palea absent or minute.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: west-central tropical, east tropical, and southern tropical. South America: Brazil.

NOTES Andropogoneae. FTEA.

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