Iseilema hubbardii

HABIT Annual. Culms prostrate; 25–40 cm long; rooting from lower nodes. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blades 2.5–4 cm long; 3–5 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Synflorescence compound; linear. Inflorescence composed of racemes; terminal and axillary; deciduous as a whole; subtended by a spatheole; enclosed. Spatheole elliptic; herbaceous.

Racemes 1; single; oblong; bearing few fertile spikelets; bearing 1 fertile spikelets on each. Rhachis internodes linear. Raceme-bases brief (truncate).

Spikelets in threes. Fertile spikelets sessile; 1 in the cluster. Companion sterile spikelets pedicelled; 2 in the cluster. Pedicels filiform; 3–4 mm long.

STERILE SPIKELETS Basal sterile spikelets well-developed; 4 in number; forming an involucre about the fertile; with both pairs arising at about the same level; pedicelled; deciduous with the fertile. Basal sterile spikelet pedicels oblong; 1.25–1.5 mm long. Basal sterile spikelets male; lanceolate, or oblong; 7–9 mm long; equalling fertile. Basal sterile spikelet glumes herbaceous; acuminate.

Companion sterile spikelets rudimentary; ovate; 0.5 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 7–8 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures. Spikelet callus oblong; 1 mm long; pilose; hairy above.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate, or oblong; 1 length of spikelet; chartaceous; without keels; keel-less except near apex; 7 -veined. Lower glume surface pubescent; hairy in the middle. Lower glume margins ciliate. Lower glume apex dentate; 2 -fid; caudate. Upper glume lanceolate; 1 length of spikelet; chartaceous; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret subulate; 4 mm long; hyaline; 2 -veined. Fertile lemma linear; 4 mm long; membranous; 1 -veined. Lemma apex entire; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn geniculate; 18 mm long overall; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn 9 mm long; glabrous. Palea absent or minute.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 3 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid; dorsally compressed. Embryo 0.75 length of caryopsis.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: India.

NOTES Andropogoneae. Murty 2001.

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