Miscanthus sacchariflorus

HABIT Perennial; culms solitary. Rhizomes elongated; scaly. Culms erect; 90–250 cm long; 5–8 mm diam. Culm-internodes 5–20 cm long. Culm-nodes bearded. Leaves cauline. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 0.5–1 mm long. Leaf-blades 20–80 cm long; 10–30 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes few, or numerous; 8–40; digitate; drooping, or ascending; 10–35 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 4–10 cm long. Rhachis tough; subterete; glabrous on surface. Rhachis internodes filiform; 4–8 mm long.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled; 2 in the cluster. Pedicels filiform; unequal; 1.5–7 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 5–6 mm long; 0.8–1 mm wide; falling entire. Spikelet callus bearded; base truncate. Spikelet callus hairs white; 2–4 length of spikelet.

GLUMES Glumes similar; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 1 length of spikelet; chartaceous; much thinner above; dark brown; without keels; 0–1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface flat. Lower glume margins ciliate (hairs to 15mm). Lower glume apex entire; acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; chartaceous; much thinner above; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume margins ciliate. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret oblong; 0.8 length of spikelet; hyaline; 3 -veined; ciliate on margins; acute. Fertile lemma lanceolate; 3.5–4.5 mm long; hyaline; without keel; 0–1 -veined. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; muticous, or mucronate. Palea 0.5 length of lemma. Palea apex ciliate.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 2–2.5 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: Soviet far east, China, and eastern Asia.

NOTES Andropogoneae. Koyama.

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