Saccharum officinarum* L. Sp. Pl. 54
(1753).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily
Panicoideae. Andropogoneae.
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: LT: Sloane, Voy. Jamaica 1: pl. 66 (1707) LT
designated by Reveal et al., Taxon 38: 98 (1989).
Key references
(books and floras): [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of
Australia, [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Walley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses
of New South Wales (363).
Illustrations:
[2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Whalley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South
Wales, 4th edn (363).
Habit.
Perennial. Culms erect, stature robust to moderate, 200–600 cm tall. Mid-culm
internodes solid, pruinose (below nodes). Ligule a fringed membrane, a
ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blades linear or lanceolate, 70–150 cm long, 30–60 mm
wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, a panicle of rames. Panicle pyramidal, dense, 50–100 cm
long. Rhachis fragile at the nodes.
Spikelets.
Spikelets sessile and pedicelled, 2 in the cluster. Fertile spikelets
2-flowered, the lower floret barren (rarely male), the upper fertile,
comprising 1 basal sterile florets, comprising 1 fertile floret(s), without
rachilla extension, lanceolate, dorsally compressed, 3.5–4 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes
similar, firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate, membranous, much
thinner above, keeled, 2-keeled, 2–4 -nerved. Upper glume lanceolate,
membranous, without keels, 1–3 -nerved. Florets. Basal sterile florets
1, barren, without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret 100 % of
length of spikelet, hyaline, 0 -nerved.
Fertile lemma 3.5–5 mm
long, 0 -nerved. Palea absent. Lodicules present. Anthers 3. Grain 1.5 mm long.
Continental
Distribution: Europe, Africa, Temperate Asia, Tropical Asia, Australasia,
Pacific, North America, and South America.
Australian
Distribution: Northern Territory, Queensland, New South Wales, Christmas
Is.
Queensland:
Cook, South Kennedy, Moreton.
Notes. Adjacent
to sugar cane cultivation but does nor persist.
