Eremochloa petelotii

HABIT Perennial. Culms erect; 60–80 cm long. Culm-nodes glabrous. Leaf-sheaths keeled. Leaf-sheath oral hairs bearded. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5 mm long. Leaf-blades 15–20 cm long; 6–8 mm wide. Leaf-blade margins scaberulous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes; terminal and axillary.

Racemes 1; single; unilateral; 3–10 cm long. Rhachis fragile at the nodes; subterete; glabrous on margins. Rhachis internodes linear; 2–2.5 mm long.

Spikelets appressed; in pairs. Fertile spikelets sessile; 1 in the cluster. Companion sterile spikelets pedicelled; 1 in the cluster. Pedicels filiform; flattened; 7–9 mm long; glabrous.

STERILE SPIKELETS Companion sterile spikelets represented by barren pedicels.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; compressed strongly; obtuse; 4.5–5 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures. Spikelet callus base truncate; with central boss; attached transversely.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; coriaceous; 2-keeled; winged on keel; winged narrowly; winged above; 9 -veined. Lower glume primary vein pectinately spinose. Lower glume surface flat. Lower glume apex obtuse, or acute. Upper glume lanceolate; coriaceous; 1-keeled; winged on keel; winged below; 5 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret elliptic; 3 mm long; hyaline; 0 -veined; without midvein; without lateral veins. Fertile lemma elliptic; 3 mm long; hyaline; without keel; 0 -veined. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea 1 length of lemma; hyaline; without keels.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: Indo-China.

NOTES Andropogoneae. WDC.

ADDITIONAL CHARACTERS Glume spines terete, 0.5–1mm.

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