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GrassBase - The Online World Grass Flora
Descriptions
W.D. Clayton, M. Vorontsova, K.T. Harman & H. Williamson
© Copyright The Board of Trustees, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Thyrsostachys
HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes short; pachymorph. Culms erect; 700–1500–2500 cm long; woody. Culm-internodes terete. Lateral branches dendroid. Branch complement many; in a horizontal line; with 1 branch dominant; thinner than stem. Culm-sheaths persistent; without auricles. Culm-sheath blade linear (1), or triangular (1). Ligule an eciliate membrane (1), or a ciliolate membrane (1). Leaf-blade base with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath. Leaf-blades deciduous at the ligule; lanceolate.
INFLORESCENCE Synflorescence bractiferous; linear (1), or fasciculate (1); with spathaceous subtending bracts; with axillary buds at base of spikelet.
Fertile spikelets sessile.
FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets, or 3 fertile florets (1); with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate (1), or ovate (1); laterally compressed; 12–17.87–25 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes definite; glabrous (1), or pubescent (1).
GLUMES Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume oblong (1), or ovate (1); 0.7–0.825–1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 9 -veined (1), or 11–13 -veined (1). Lower glume surface without pits; pubescent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume oblong (1), or ovate (1); 0.5–0.8125–1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 9 -veined (1), or 12–13 -veined (1). Upper glume lateral veins with cross-veins (1/1). Upper glume surface pubescent. Upper glume apex acute.
FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; membranous; without keel; wingless; 9–12 -veined (1), or 13 -veined, or 14–19 -veined (1). Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves; pubescent. Lemma apex acute. Palea 1 length of lemma; membranous (1), or chartaceous (1); 3–5 -veined (1), or 7–9 -veined (1); 2-keeled but the uppermost without keels (1), or 2-keeled (1). Palea keels ciliate. Palea surface glabrous (1), or pubescent (1). Palea apex dentate, or lobed.
FLOWER Lodicules absent (1), or 2 (1); ciliate (1/1); acute (1/1). Anthers 6. Stigmas 1 (1), or 3 (1). Ovary umbonate; glabrous.
FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.
DISTRIBUTION Temperate Asia, or Tropical Asia.
Please cite this publication as detailed in How to Cite Version: 3rd February 2016.
