PEROTIS Aiton. Type: Pennisetum latifolia Trin. Hort. Kew 1: 85. 1789.

Notes Found in East and South Africa, Eastern Asia, India, Indo-China, Malesia, Australasia, and Pasific. Distribution at Sulawesi North: Talaud, Miangas, Alt. 7 m. Southeast: Kendari, Alt. 6 m. Habitat Opened area. Specimen examined Lam 3367A BO; Kjellberg 1231 BO.

69. PEROTIS Aiton. Type: Pennisetum latifolia Trin. Hort. Kew 1: 85. 1789.

Xystidium Trin., Fund. Agrost. 1820; Grass. Burma, Caylon, India Pakistan i-xviii, 1-767. 1960; Wageningen Agric. Univ. Pap. 922: 1-557. 1992. From the Greek peros “maimed”, and ous, otis “ear”, referring to the small awnless lemma. About 19 species in the world, from Africa, Asia, and Australasia. Plants annual, or perennial. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending. Ligule an eciliate membrane, or a fringe of hairs. Inflorescence composed of racemes, exserted, or embraced at base by subtending leaf. Racemes single, multilateral. Rachis angular. Spikelets jointed below the glumes. Glumes similar, narrow, 1-nerved, each with a slender awn. Floret one; lemma and palea much smaller than the glumes. Anthers 3. Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Key to the Species 1.a. Culms up to 40 cm long; fertile spikelets sessile; callus square; glumes dissimilar ................................................................69.2. Perotis hordeiformis b. Culms up to 50 cm long; fertile spikelets pedicelled; callus oblong; glumes similar ...............................................................................69.1. Perotis indica 69.1. Perotis indica L. Kuntze. Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 787. 1891. Anthoxanthum indicum L. Sp.Pl. 1: 28. 1753. Perotis latifolia Aiton. Hort. Kew. 1: 85. 1789; Grass. Burma, Ceylon, India Pakistan i-xviii, 1-767. 1960. Plants annual, caespitose. Culms up to 50 cm long, tufted, decumbent, then erect. Sheaths overlapping and crowded, smooth, 1 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Blades 1-3 cm by 2-10 mm; margin cartilaginous, bearing stiff teeth; base dordate, clasping, lanceolate, glabrous and glaucuous. Inflorescence composed of racemes. Racemes 1, single, multilateral, 2-15 cm long. Spikelet packing crowded, or contiguous, irregular. Spikelets spreading, or ascending, solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels oblong 0.2 mm long. Fertile spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets, without rachilla extension; linear, or lanceolate, subterete, 2-3 mm long, falling entire; callus oblong, 0.2-0.5 mm long. Glumes similar, exceeding apex of florets, firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate, 1.5-2.5 mm long, as long as upper glume, membraneous, no keels, 1-nerved; lateral nerves absent; surface hispidulous; apex acuminate, 1-awned 5-15 mm long. Upper glume lanceolate, 1.5-2,5 mm long, 2-3 times of adjacent fertile lemma, membraneous, no keels, 1-nerved; primary nerve distinct; lateral nerves absent; surface hispidulous; apex acuminate, 1-awned 5-15 mm long. Florets: fertile lemma lanceolate, 0.5-1 mm long, hyaline, no keel, 1-nerved; apex acute; palea hyaline. Anthers 3. Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Notes Found in Africa, China, India, Indo-China, Malesia, and Australia. Distribution at Sulawesi Central: Palu, Natabaru, Alt. 125 m; Mt. Gawalise, Alt. 550 m. Habitat Opened area, grassland. Specimen examined Lasut 939 WALL; Papa 303 WALL.

69.2. Perotis hordeiformis Nees. Bot. Beechey Voy. 247-248. 1838.