Saccharum L.

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Morphology General Habit

Perennial. Rhizomes absent (25), or short (7), or elongated (4). Culms erect (34/35), or geniculately ascending (1/35), or rambling (1/35); robust (25/25); 0-221.6-1000 cm long; firm (34), or woody (2). Culm-internodes terete (2/2). Culm-nodes flush with internodes (1/2), or swollen (2/2). Lateral branches lacking (4/4). Leaf-sheath auricles absent (35), or erect (1). Ligule an eciliate membrane (17), or a ciliolate membrane (14), or a ciliate membrane (4), or a fringe of hairs (1). Leaf-blade base without a false petiole (35), or with a false petiole (1). Leaf-blades filiform (1), or linear (33), or lanceolate (3); herbaceous (35), or coriaceous (1); stiff (5), or firm (31). Leaf-blade midrib conspicuous (5/10), or widened (5/10). Leaf-blade margins cartilaginous (1/1).

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence a panicle with branches tipped by a raceme; exserted (35), or embraced at base by subtending leaf (2). Panicle open (33/34), or contracted (1/34). Primary panicle branches not whorled (32), or whorled at lower nodes (1), or whorled at most nodes (3). Racemes bearing few fertile spikelets (3), or many spikelets (33); 2 fertile spikelets on each (1/4), or 4-6 fertile spikelets on each (1/4), or 7-8 fertile spikelets on each (2/4), or 9 fertile spikelets on each (1/4), or 10-17 fertile spikelets on each (2/4), or 18-30 fertile spikelets on each (1/4). Rhachis fragile at the nodes; angular (1), or subterete (35). Rhachis internodes filiform (15), or linear (20), or clavate (1). Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets sessile (3), or sessile and pedicelled (34); 1 in the cluster (3), or 2 in the cluster (34); subequal (33/33), or the upper smaller (1/33). Companion sterile spikelets pedicelled (3/3); 0 in the cluster (1/3), or 1 in the cluster (3/3). Pedicels filiform (15), or linear (20), or clavate (1); tip widened (1/1).

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

Companion sterile spikelets absent (33), or rudimentary (2), or well-developed (3). Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets linear (1), or lanceolate (29), or elliptic (4), or oblong (5), or ovate (1); dorsally compressed; 2-5.043-10 mm long; falling entire; deciduous from the base (34), or with accessory branch structures. Spikelet callus brief (35), or square (1); glabrous (1), or pubescent (1), or pilose (3), or bearded (32); base truncate (35), or obtuse (1); inserted (1/1).

Sterile

Companion sterile spikelets absent (33), or rudimentary (2), or well-developed (3).

Fertile

Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets linear (1), or lanceolate (29), or elliptic (4), or oblong (5), or ovate (1); dorsally compressed; 2-5.043-10 mm long; falling entire; deciduous from the base (34), or with accessory branch structures. Spikelet callus brief (35), or square (1); glabrous (1), or pubescent (1), or pilose (3), or bearded (32); base truncate (35), or obtuse (1); inserted (1/1).

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume

Glumes reaching apex of florets (6/11), or exceeding apex of florets (5/11); firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate (27), or elliptic (3), or oblong (7), or ovate (1); membranous (12), or chartaceous (10), or cartilaginous (6), or coriaceous (8); without keels (4), or 2-keeled (32); 1 -veined (2/19), or 2 -veined (7/19), or 3 -veined (5/19), or 4 -veined (6/19), or 5 -veined (7/19), or 6 -veined (1/19), or 7 -veined (2/19), or 9-11 -veined (1/19). Lower glume lateral veins absent (1), or obscure (1), or distinct (35); without ribs (35), or ribbed (1). Lower glume surface convex (8), or flat (28); smooth (33), or asperulous (1), or scabrous (2); glabrous (18), or puberulous (1), or pubescent (4), or pilose (11), or hirsute (4), or villous (6). Lower glume apex entire (34), or dentate (3); 2 -fid (3/3); emarginate (4/32), or truncate (3/32), or obtuse (4/32), or acute (9/32), or acuminate (16/32). Upper glume lanceolate (33), or elliptic (1), or oblong (2); membranous (13), or chartaceous (10), or cartilaginous (4), or coriaceous (9); without keels (20), or 1-keeled (16); 1 -veined (14/28), or 2 -veined (2/28), or 3 -veined (11/28), or 5 -veined (2/28), or 7 -veined (3/28). Upper glume primary vein eciliate (35), or ciliate (2). Upper glume lateral veins without ribs (23/24), or ribbed (1/24). Upper glume surface smooth (34), or asperulous (1), or scabrous (1); glabrous (29), or pubescent (1), or pilose (9), or hirsute (3), or villous (2). Upper glume apex truncate (2/35), or obtuse (1/35), or acute (29/35), or acuminate (2/35), or setaceously attenuate (1/35), or caudate (1/35); muticous (34), or mucronate (1), or awned (1); 1 -awned (1/1).

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Florets

Basal sterile florets barren; with palea (1), or without significant palea (35). Lemma of lower sterile floret linear (2), or lanceolate (27), or elliptic (3), or oblong (4), or ovate (1); hyaline (35), or membranous (1); 0 -veined (9/18), or 1 -veined (4/18), or 2 -veined (3/18), or 3 -veined (5/18); truncate (1/34), or obtuse (2/34), or acute (31/34); muticous (35), or mucronate (2). Fertile lemma linear (18/35), or lanceolate (15/35), or elliptic (1/35), or oblong (6/35), or ovate (1/35); hyaline (35/35); 0 -veined (5/18), or 1 -veined (6/18), or 3 -veined (7/18). Lemma surface glabrous (34/35), or pubescent (1/35). Lemma margins eciliate (25/35), or ciliolate (6/35), or ciliate (5/35). Lemma apex entire (24/35), or dentate (6/35), or lobed (6/35); 2 -fid (11/11); incised 0.2-0.3517-0.5 of lemma length; acute (6/6); muticous (10/35), or mucronate (1/35), or awned (27/35); 1 -awned (25/25). Principal lemma awn apical (17/28), or from a sinus (11/28); straight (17/28), or curved (4/28), or flexuous (3/28), or geniculate (6/28). Palea present (16), or absent or minute (20); 0.15-0.875-3 length of lemma; hyaline (8/16), or membranous (8/16). Palea keels eciliate (15/16), or ciliolate (1/16). Palea surface glabrous (14/16), or pilose (2/16).

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Lodicules 2 (26/26); glabrous (12/26), or ciliate (14/26). Anthers 2 (2/33), or 3 (31/33).

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Caryopsis with adherent pericarp (2/2); oblong (2/2); isodiametric (1/1). Embryo 0.15 length of caryopsis.

Distribution

Europe (4), or Africa (9), or Temperate Asia (17), or Tropical Asia (21), or Australasia (2), or Pacific (4), or North America (8), or South America (6).

M. Thulin et al. Flora of Somalia, Vol. 1-4 [updated 2008] https://plants.jstor.org/collection/FLOS

Morphology General Habit

Tufted or rhizomatous perennials; leaves linear; ligule scarious or a line of hairs

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence a panicle, often large and plumose, bearing numerous racemes crowded on its branches; racemes with fragile rhachis, bearing paired similar spikelets, one sessile, the other pedicelled; internodes linear, slender

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

Spikelets lanceolate, enveloped in long silky hairs from the callus, dorsally compressed; callus very short, truncate; glumes equal, membranous to coriaceous, the lower flat or rounded on the back, ± 2-keeled; lower floret barren, reduced to a lemma; upper lemma lanceolate, hyaline, awnless or with a straight awn, entire or rarely 2-toothed, sometimes almost suppressed; stamens 2–3

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Caryopsis subglobose to narrowly oblong.

Distribution

35–40 species throughout the tropics and subtropics.

Gramineae, T. A. Cope. Flora Zambesiaca 10:4. 2002

Morphology General Habit

Inflorescence a panicle, often large and plumose, bearing numerous racemes on its branches; racemes loose, fragile, with slender internodes.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

Spikelets alike, paired, one sessile, one pedicelled, lanceolate, enveloped in long silky hairs from the callus.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume

Inferior glume membranous or sometimes subcoriaceous below, flat or rounded on the back.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Florets

Inferior floret represented by a short hyaline lemma.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Lemma

Superior lemma entire or bidentate, awned or awnless, sometimes almost suppressed; stamens 2–3.