Gymnopogon delicatulus

HABIT Annual. Culms erect; 13–15 cm long. Leaves distichous. Leaf-sheaths without keel; outer margin glabrous. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate. Ligule a ciliate membrane; 0.2–0.3 mm long. Leaf-blade base broadly rounded. Leaf-blades flat, or involute; 1–2.5 cm long; 1–3 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade midrib indistinct. Leaf-blade surface glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 6–12; digitate; ascending; unilateral; 5 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 0.5–2 cm long. Rhachis angular; scabrous on margins. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; distant.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels oblong.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 2 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus pilose.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; gaping. Lower glume linear; 2 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scaberulous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume linear; 2 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scaberulous. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 2 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins obscure. Lemma surface pubescent. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn subapical; flexuous; 6 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma. Apical sterile florets 2–3 in number; barren; rudimentary. Apical sterile lemmas awned; 1 -awned. Apical sterile lemma awns 4–7 mm long.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.2 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; 0.7–0.9 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: India and Indo-China.

NOTES Cynodonteae. Smith.

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