Notes
Found in Malesia.
Distribution
South: Mt. Bonthain, Alt. 950 m, 1000 m 1400 m.
Habitat
Not recorded.
Specimen examined
Bunnemeijer 11631 BO, 11671 L, holotype; BO, isotype, Steenis 10407 BO.
49. IMPERATA Cirillo. Type: Imperata arundinacea Cirillo, Pl. Rar. Neapol. 2: 27,
pl. 11. 1792. Saccharum subgen. Imperatum Pers. Syn. Pl. 1: 103. 1805.
Syllepis E. Fourn. Mexic. Pl. 2: 252. 1886; U.S. Natl. Herb. 281: 9. 1929; Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 46: 270-273. 2003.
Commemorating Ferrante Imperato of Naples, physician and naturalist in sixteenth century.
About 8 species, tropical and subtropical. Plant perennial. Rhizome
subterranean. Flowering culms of few internodes. Blades nearly all arising from near the base of the culm, erect. Inflorescence a much branched panicle, its branches
ascending close to the main axis, the whole compact and cylindric at flowering. Branchlets not jointed. Spikelets paired, or solitary, all alike, bisexual, if paired
pedicels unequal, and bearing a few fine hairs near the thickened top and many fine spreading white hairs also on the base of the spikelets, hairs twice as long as the
glumes or more. Glumes about equal, hairy on the back, thin. Lower floret neuter, lemma much smaller than the glumes, no palea. Upper floret hermaphrodite, lemma
thin, not awned, palea present. Lodicules absent. Stamens 2. Stigmas 2.
Key to the Species
1.a. Culms up to 200 cm long; sheaths 12 cm long or more; ligule a ciliate membrane; panicle contracted, lanceolate, 25-50 cm long; lower glume
lanceolate, 3-nerved, apex acuminate; anther 1, 2 mm long .............................
....................................................................................49.1. Imperata conferta b. Culms 15-95 cm long; sheaths 7-9 cm long; ligule a ciliolate membrane; panicle
spiciform, 3-20 cm long; lower glume oblong, 5-7-nerved, apex acute; anther 2, 3-5 mm long ...................................49.2. Imperata cylindrica
49.1. Imperata conferta J. Presl Ohwi. Bot. Mag. Tokyo 55:549. 1941.
Saccharum confertum J.S. Presl ex C.B. Presl. Reliq. Haenk. 14-5: 346. 1830.
Imperata exaltata subsp. merillii Hack. Philipp. J. Sci. 1: 264. 1906. Plants perennial, rhizomes elongated. Culms up to 200 cm long. Nodes
glabrous. Sheaths 12 cm long or more, loose. Ligule a ciliate membrane. Blades 20- 45 cm by 7-14 mm, margin scaberulous, apex acuminate. Inflorescence a panicle with
branches tipped by a raceme. Panicle contracted, lanceolate, 25-50 cm long; primary branches closely spaced, 6-12 cm long. Racemes 0.5-1 cm long, bearing few fertile
spikelets. Rachis tough, internodes filiform. Spikelets in pairs: fertile spikelets pedicelled, 2 in the cluster. Pedicels filiform, unequal, 1.2-2.6 mm long. Fertile
spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets, 1 fertile florets, without rhachilla extension; lanceolate, subterete, 3 mm long, falling entire; callus bearded, base truncate, hairs
white, 15-22 mm long, 5-7 length of spikelet. Glumes similar, exceeding apex of florets, firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate, as long as the spikelet,
membraneous, without keels, 3-nerved; surface villous, hairy bellow, apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate, 2.8 mm long, 0.9 times length of spikelet, membraneous,
without keels, 3-nerved; surface villous, hairy below; apex acuminate. Florets: basal sterile florets barren, without significant palea; lemma similar to fertile lemma, linear,
2 mm long, hyaline, 1-nerved; apex erose. Palea 0.5 times length of lemma, hyaline, no nerves, without keels. Lodicules absent. Anthers 1, 2 mm long. Stigmas 2,
terminally exserted.
Notes
Found in Eastern Asia, Indo-China, Malesia, and Pasific.
Distribution
North: Manado, Alt. 50 m; Minahasa, Alt. 1100 m; Tonsealama, Alt. 700 m. South: Polewali, Mamasa.
Habitat
Opened area.
Specimen examined Koorders 17253 ß, 17255 ß BO; Yoshida 1101 BO; Wisse 15 BO.
49.2. Imperata cylindrica L. Raeusch. Nomencl. Bot. ed.33: 10. 1797.
