Gaoligongshania

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes short; pachymorph. Culms erect; 152–260 cm long; woody. Culm-internodes terete. Lateral branches suffrutescent. Branch complement one; as thick as stem. Culm-sheaths persistent; auriculate. Culm-sheath blade lanceolate. Leaf-sheath auricles falcate. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blade base with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath. Leaf-blades lanceolate. Leaf-blade venation with obscure cross veins.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–9 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets linear; subterete; 20–40 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes definite; pubescent. Floret callus pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; chartaceous; without keels; 5 -veined. Lower glume surface scabrous; without pits. Lower glume apex attenuate. Upper glume lanceolate; chartaceous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume surface scabrous. Upper glume apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; chartaceous; without keel; wingless; 5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins obscure. Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves; puberulous. Lemma margins ciliolate. Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned. Palea 1 length of lemma; chartaceous. Palea keels ciliolate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 3; ciliate. Anthers 3. Stigmas 3. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Temperate Asia.

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