GrassBase - The Online World Grass Flora

Descriptions

W.D. Clayton, M. Vorontsova, K.T. Harman & H. Williamson

© Copyright The Board of Trustees, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Spodiopogon dubius

HABIT Perennial. Culms erect; 90–150 cm long. Leaves cauline. Leaf-sheaths pubescent. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1–2 mm long; pubescent on abaxial surface; obtuse. Leaf-blade base simple, or broadly rounded. Leaf-blades linear to lanceolate; 20–30 cm long; 10–15 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pubescent; hairy on both sides; with tubercle-based hairs. Leaf-blade margins scabrous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate; filiform.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle with branches tipped by a raceme.

Panicle contracted; linear, or oblong; 15–20 cm long.

Racemes 1–1.5 cm long; bearing few fertile spikelets; bearing 2–4 fertile spikelets on each. Rhachis fragile at the nodes; subterete; ciliate on margins. Rhachis internodes linear; 0.5 length of fertile spikelet.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets sessile and pedicelled; 2 in the cluster. Pedicels linear; 0.5 length of fertile spikelet; ciliate; tip cupuliform.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 5 mm long; falling entire; deciduous from the base, or with accessory branch structures. Spikelet callus bearded; base obtuse; inserted. Spikelet callus hairs white; 0.33 length of spikelet.

GLUMES Glumes similar; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; chartaceous; pallid; without keels; 5–7 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins ribbed. Lower glume surface convex; pubescent. Lower glume apex dentate; 2 -fid. Upper glume lanceolate; chartaceous; pallid; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scabrous. Upper glume lateral veins ribbed. Upper glume margins ciliate. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret lanceolate; 5 mm long; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 3 -veined; acute. Fertile lemma linear; 4.5 mm long; hyaline; 3 -veined. Lemma apex lobed; 2 -fid; with linear lobes; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; geniculate; 8–10 mm long overall; with twisted column. Palea lanceolate; 1 length of lemma; hyaline; 0 -veined; without keels.

FLOWER Lodicules 2. Anthers 3.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China. Asia-tropical: India.

NOTES Andropogoneae. Hackel 1993.

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