Cochinchinochloa

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes short; pachymorph. Culms scandent; 800–1500 cm long; woody. Culm-internodes terete. Culm-nodes swollen. Lateral branches dendroid. Branch complement several; in a clump; with 1 branch dominant. Culm-sheaths auriculate. Culm-sheath blade ovate. Leaf-sheath auricles erect. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blade base with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath. Leaf-blades oblong, or ovate.

INFLORESCENCE Synflorescence bractiferous; clustered at the nodes; in untidy tufts; with glumaceous subtending bracts; without axillary buds at base of spikelet; leafy between clusters.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 40–50 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes definite.

GLUMES Glumes several; persistent; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; scarious; without keels. Lower glume surface without pits. Upper glume oblong; scarious; without keels.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate, or oblong; coriaceous; without keel; wingless; 8–11 -veined. Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves. Lemma margins ciliate. Lemma apex acute; mucronate. Palea keels contiguous above a sulcus. Palea surface pilose. Apical sterile florets 1 in number; rudimentary.

FLOWER Lodicules 3; ciliate. Anthers 6. Stigmas 3. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; oblong; apex rostrate.

DISTRIBUTION Tropical Asia.

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