Cyrtochloa

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes short; pachymorph. Culms erect (5/5), or geniculately ascending (1/5), or scandent (4/5); 100–664.8–1040 cm long; woody. Culm-internodes terete. Culm-nodes swollen (1/1). Lateral branches dendroid. Branch complement several (3/3), or many (1/3); with 1 branch dominant (3/3). Culm-sheaths persistent (3/3); auriculate (4/4). Culm-sheath blade ovate (2/4), or triangular (2/4); cordate (2/2). Leaf-sheath auricles absent (2), or falcate (5). Ligule an eciliate membrane (1), or a ciliolate membrane (3), or a ciliate membrane (3). Leaf-blade base with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath. Leaf-blades lanceolate; herbaceous (5), or coriaceous (2); stiff (1), or firm (6). Leaf-blade margins unthickened (1/2), or cartilaginous (2/2).

INFLORESCENCE Synflorescence bractiferous; clustered at the nodes; in globose clusters (1), or oblong clusters (5), or untidy tufts (1); with glumaceous subtending bracts (4), or spathaceous subtending bracts (4); with axillary buds at base of spikelet; leafless between clusters (4/5), or leafless between branches (1/5).

Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension (3), or with a barren rhachilla extension (2), or with diminished florets at the apex (2). Spikelets linear (1), or lanceolate (1), or elliptic (2), or ovate (3); laterally compressed; 4.15–6.934–12 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes two (5), or several (2); persistent; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; chartaceous; without keels; 5 -veined (3/6), or 6 -veined (1/6), or 7 -veined (4/6). Lower glume surface without pits; glabrous (4), or puberulous (1), or pubescent (2). Lower glume apex acute (3), or acuminate (4). Upper glume ovate; chartaceous; without keels; 5 -veined (2/6), or 6 -veined (1/6), or 7 -veined (3/6), or 9 -veined (2/6). Upper glume surface glabrous (3), or puberulous (1), or pubescent (2), or hispidulous (1). Upper glume apex acute (2), or acuminate (5); muticous (4), or mucronate (3).

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; chartaceous; without keel; wingless; 5 -veined (2), or 6 -veined (1), or 7 -veined (3), or 8 -veined (1), or 9 -veined (4). Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves; glabrous (4), or pubescent (3). Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea; eciliate (6), or ciliate (1). Lemma apex acute (3), or acuminate (2), or attenuate (1), or setaceously attenuate (1); muticous (5), or mucronate (1), or awned (1); 1 -awned (1/1). Palea tightly convolute around flower; chartaceous; 4 -veined (1/6), or 5 -veined (2/6), or 6 -veined (3/6); without keels. Palea surface glabrous (5), or pubescent (1), or pilose (1). Palea apex dentate (2/2). Apical sterile florets 1 in number (2/2); barren (2/2); lanceolate (2/2).

FLOWER Lodicules 2 (1), or 3 (6); ciliate. Anthers 6. Stigmas 3. Ovary with a steeple-like appendage; pubescent on apex (2/2).

FRUIT Caryopsis with free brittle pericarp (2), or fleshy pericarp (5); oblong (1/5), or orbicular (3/5), or obovoid (1/5); isodiametric (1/1); rugose (2/2).

DISTRIBUTION Tropical Asia.

Please cite this publication as detailed in How to Cite Version: 3rd February 2016.