Coix lingulata Hack. Oesterr. Bot. Z. 41: 5(1891).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Panicoideae. Andropogoneae.
Type of Basionym or Protologue Information: Myanmar: Shan Hills, Fort Stedmens, H. Collett. s.n..
Recent synonyms: C. gigantea.
Key references (books and floras): [1980] M.Lazarides, Tropical Grasses S.E.Asia (53 as C.gigantea), [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of Australia.
Habit. Annual. Culms erect, stature robust to moderate, 200–400 cm tall. Mid-culm nodes glabrous. Leaves cauline. Ligule an eciliate membrane, 0.5–1 mm long. Leaf-blades 25–50 cm long, 6–20 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous.
Inflorescence. Inflorescence compound, a panicle of rames. Rhachis obsolete.
Spikelets. Spikelets sessile, 1 in the cluster. Companion spikelets pedicelled, 2 in the cluster. Male spikelets 3 in a cluster. Companion spikelets represented by barren pedicels. 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, ovate, dorsally compressed, 7–9 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes dissimilar, similar to fertile lemma in texture. Lower glume orbicular, membranous, firmer above, without keels. Upper glume ovate, membranous, keeled, 1-keeled. Florets. Basal sterile florets 1, barren, without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret 100 % of length of spikelet, membranous, firmer above. Fertile florets female.
Fertile lemma 6–7.6 mm long, keeled, 5 -nerved. Palea 2 -nerved, without keels. Lodicules absent or vestigial (female) or present (male). Anthers 3.
Continental Distribution: Temperate Asia, Tropical Asia, and Australasia.
Australian Distribution: Queensland.
Queensland: Cook.
Notes. Throughout tropical and SE Asia to Cape York Peninsula.
