Saccharum spontaneum L. Mantissa
2:183 (1771).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily
Panicoideae. Andropogoneae.
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: T: Koenig s.n., ST: van Rogen s.n.,
(L).
Key references
(books and floras): [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of
Australia.
Habit.
Perennial. Rhizomes present, elongated. Culms erect, stature robust to
moderate, 100–400 cm tall. Mid-culm internodes solid. Mid-culm nodes glabrous.
Lateral branches simple. Ligule a fringed membrane, a ciliolate membrane, 4.5
mm long. Leaf-blades 50–200 cm long, 3–15(–40) mm wide.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, a panicle of rames. Panicle ovate, dense, 20–60 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, 2–7 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes
similar, firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate, coriaceous or
indurate, much thinner above. Upper glume linear or lanceolate, coriaceous,
without keels, 1 -nerved. Upper glume apex mucronate. Florets. Basal
sterile florets 1, barren, without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile
floret 50 % of length of spikelet, hyaline, 0 -nerved.
Fertile lemma 1–2 mm
long, 0 -nerved. Palea absent. Lodicules present. Anthers 3.
Continental
Distribution: Europe, Africa, Temperate Asia, Tropical Asia, Australasia,
Pacific, and South America.
Australian
Distribution: Northern Territory, Queensland, Christmas Is.
Northern Territory:
Darwin & Gulf. Queensland: Cook.
Notes. A
widespread Old World species occurring from northern tropical Africa, through
the eastern Mediterranean to India, China, Japan, SE Asia and Australia (N.T.,
Qld.) Flowers Jan. and Aug.
