Cynodon barberi

HABIT Perennial; mat forming. Rhizomes absent. Stolons present; with alternating elongated and bunched internodes. Basal innovations flabellate. Culms geniculately ascending; 25–40 cm long; rooting from lower nodes. Culm-nodes glabrous. Leaf-sheaths 1–2.5 cm long; keeled. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blades linear, or lanceolate; 1.5–4.6 cm long; 3–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or hispid; sparsely hairy; hairy adaxially. Leaf-blade margins scaberulous. Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 4–5; digitate; unilateral; 3–5 cm long. Rhachis narrowly winged; flattened. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; regular; 2 -rowed. Raceme-bases brief; pubescent.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; compressed strongly; 2.2–2.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblong; 1–2 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume oblong; 2.2–2.5 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute; muticous, or mucronate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; laterally compressed; 1.8–2 mm long; cartilaginous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma midvein pubescent. Lemma surface pubescent; hairy on veins; with clavate hairs. Lemma apex acute. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels ciliolate (with clavate hairs).

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; 1–1.3 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: India.

NOTES Cynodonteae. Patunkar.

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