Ischaemum elimalayanum

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 30–120 cm long. Culm-nodes pubescent. Lateral branches ample. Leaf-sheaths 5–15 cm long; mostly shorter than adjacent culm internode; keeled; striately veined; pilose; with tubercle-based hairs. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 3–6 mm long. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 5–20 cm long; 4–10 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pilose; with tubercle-based hairs. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 2; paired; 4–8 cm long. Rhachis fragile at the nodes; angular; villous on margins. Rhachis internodes clavate; 2.5–3 mm long. Rhachis internode tip transverse; cupuliform.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets sessile; 1 in the cluster. Companion sterile spikelets pedicelled; 1 in the cluster. Pedicels oblong; 2.5–3 mm long; villous; with 0.5–2 mm long hairs.

STERILE SPIKELETS Companion sterile spikelets well-developed; bisexual; oblong; laterally compressed; 4–4.5 mm long; shorter than fertile; separately deciduous. Companion sterile spikelet glumes chartaceous; keeled; winged on keels (1 keel); 7–9 -veined; villous. Companion sterile spikelet lemmas 2; enclosed by glumes.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; 5–5.5 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures. Spikelet callus bearded; base truncate; inserted.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblong, or ovate; 1 length of spikelet; coriaceous; much thinner above; 2-keeled; keeled all along; keeled laterally; 9–11 -veined. Lower glume surface flat; rugose. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; coriaceous; 1-keeled; winged on keel; winged near apex. Upper glume surface scabrous; rough at apex; puberulous.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret lanceolate, or oblong; 4–4.5 mm long; membranous; 3 -veined; ciliate on margins; fringed above. Palea of lower sterile floret 4–4.5 mm long. Fertile lemma oblong; 3–3.5 mm long; membranous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma margins ciliolate; hairy above. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; geniculate; 12–15 mm long overall; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn 5–7 mm long; glabrous. Palea 2.5–3 mm long.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; 0.5 mm long. Anthers 3; 1–1.5 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: India.

NOTES Andropogoneae. Fl Kerala 2006.

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