DICHANTHIUM

Dichanthium Willemet in Usteri, Ann. Bot. 18: 11. 1796; Bor, Grasses Burma, Ceyl. Ind. Pak. 133. 1960; Sharma & Khosla, Grasses Punj. and Chandigarh 207. 1989; Chen & Phillips, Fl. China @ eFloras.org 22: 604; Fl. Pak. @ eFloras.org p. 279.

Perennials, rarely annuals. Leaf blades linear, flat or rolled; ligule membranous. Inflorescences of 2-many racemes, rarely solitary, subdigitate or racemosely arranged on very short common axis. Spikelets 2-nate (of 2 types), one sessile, other pedicelled, different in sex except the lowest 1 or 2 pairs of each raceme which are homogamous: male or neuter; rachis internodes and pedicels slender, solid, bearded. Sessile Spikelets: Imbricate, dorsally compressed, 2-flowered, awned. Glumes equal, papery to cartilaginous: lower glume 2-keeled upwards, apex obtuse; upper glume boat-shaped, 3-nerved, acute, keeled. Lower floret: Barren, its lemma (lower lemma) hyaline and nerveless and palea (lower palea) short, narrow and hyaline or absent. Upper floret: Bisexual; its lemma (upper lemma) reduced to a hyaline firm, linear stalk passing into a slender awn; palea minute or absent. Stamens 3. Stigmas 2, plumose. Caryopsis oblong, dorsally compressed. Pedicelled Spikelets: Similar to the sessile spikelets excepting florets being male, neuter or suppressed and awnless.

19 species

Dichanthium annulatum

Dichanthium annulatum (Forssk.) Stapf. in D. Oliver & auct. suc. (eds.), Fl. Trop. Afr. 9: 178. 1917; Bor, Grasses Burma, Ceyl. Ind. Pak. 133. 1960; Sharma & Khosla, Grasses Punj. and Chandigarh 208. 1989; Sharma & Kachroo, Illustr. Fl. Jammu 2: t.289. 1983; Dhaliwal & Sharma, Fl. Kullu Dist. 677. 1999; Kaur & Sharma, Fl. Sirmaur 663. 2004; Singh & Sharma, Fl. Chamba Dist. 773. 2006; Fl. China @ eFloras.org 22: 605; Fl. Pak. @ eFloras.org p. 280; Andropogon annulatum Forssk., Fl. Aegypt- Arab. 173. 1775; Hook. f., Fl. Brit. Ind. 7: 196. 1897; Collett, Fl. Siml. ed. 2: 603. 1921 (Reprint 1980).

A densely tufted perennial with erect or geniculately ascending culms, 15-80 cm high, rooting at basal nodes, nodes bearded. Leaf blades (2.2-)10-20 cm x (1-)4-6 mm, narrow-linear, flat, acuminate, glabrous or hirsute with tubercle-based hairs on upper surface in basal region, margin scabrid; leaf sheaths keeled, somewhat loose, sparsely hairy; ligule long, ca. 1.5 mm long, membranous, truncate. Inflorescence a panicle of 2-11, subdigitate racemes or racemes racemosely arranged on a very short common axis, joints with axis usually swollen and bearded; racemes 3.5-6 cm long; peduncles 0.4-0.6 cm long. Spikelets imbricate or subimbricate, paired, 2-nate (of 2 types): pedicelled male or neuter, sessile bisexual, awned, lower 1-2 pairs male or neuter and awnless.

SESSILE SPIKELETS: 3-5 mm long, oblong, truncate or obtuse, 2-flowered, dorsally compressed, awned. Lower glume oblong, obtuse or somewhat truncate, as long as spikelet, 3-9-nerved (oftenly 5-nerved), pubescent or villous below middle, 2-keeled, spinously ciliate on keels; upper glume nearly as long as lower glume, acute or obtuse, 3-nerved, 3-keeled, depressed towards central keel, glabrous or ciliate. Lower floret barren, its lemma (lower lemma) linear-oblong, obtuse or 2-fid, nerveless, hyaline, its palea (lower palea) nearly equal to upper glume, linear-lanceolate, hyaline. Upper floret bisexual: its lemma (upper lemma) reduced to a firm, hyaline stipe passing into an awn; awn straight or geniculate, up to 2.8 cm long; its palea (upper palea) absent. Callus short and bearded. Lodicules 2, minute. Stamens 3; anthers oblong, ca. 2 mm long, dehiscence by apical and basal pores; filaments filiform. Stigmas 2, plumose. Caryopsis oblong, compressed laterally.

PEDICELLED SPIKELETS: Male or neuter, equal to sessile spikelet, flattened, oblanceolate-spathulate. Pedicels 1.5-2 mm long, ciliate. Upper and lower glumes equal, lower glume obtuse or acute, 7-11-nerved, margins ciliate, upper glume as in sessile spikelet. Lower floret reduced to an obtuse ciliate lemma. Upper floret male or neuter, its lemma (upper lemma) small, muticous, hyaline. Upper palea absent.

Flowering and Fruiting: Almost throughout the year
Common Names: Sheda Grass, Blue stem, Diaz Bluestem, Hindi Grass, Marvel Grass, Ringed Dichanthium, Angleton Grass