Kuruna

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes short; pachymorph. Culms erect (2/4), or scandent (2/4); 100–350–800 cm long; woody; without nodal roots (1/1). Culm-internodes terete (5), or semiterete (1). Culm-nodes swollen (1/1); without obvious supra-nodal ridge (1/1). Lateral branches dendroid. Branch complement three (1), or several (3), or many (2); in a horizontal line (1), or in a clump (5); at the node (5), or subtended by a bare patch above the node (1); with subequal branches (2/3), or 1 branch dominant (1/3); thinner than stem. Culm-sheaths persistent (1/4), or deciduous (3/4); without auricles. Culm-sheath blade linear (1), or lanceolate (3), or narrowly ovate (1), or triangular (1); narrower than sheath (1/1). Ligule an eciliate membrane (3), or a ciliolate membrane (2), or absent (1). Leaf-blade base without a false petiole (2), or with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath (4). Leaf-blades persistent (4), or deciduous at the ligule (2); linear (1), or lanceolate (4), or elliptic (1), or oblong (1); herbaceous (5), or coriaceous (1); stiff (1), or firm (5). Leaf-blade venation without cross veins (2), or with obscure cross veins (1), or with distinct cross veins (4). Leaf-blade margins unthickened (1/3), or cartilaginous (2/3).

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets (1), or 2 fertile florets (2), or 3 fertile florets (1), or 4 fertile florets (2), or 5 fertile florets (3), or 6–7 fertile florets (1); with a barren rhachilla extension (1), or with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets linear (3), or lanceolate (2), or elliptic (1); laterally compressed; 8–15.55–35 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes definite (5/5); glabrous (1/5), or sparsely hairy (1/5), or pubescent (4/5).

GLUMES Glumes persistent (4), or deciduous (2); shorter than spikelet. Lower glume oblong (1), or ovate (5); chartaceous; without keels; 1 -veined (1/5), or 5 -veined (2/5), or 7 -veined (2/5). Lower glume lateral veins absent (1), or distinct (5). Lower glume surface without pits. Lower glume apex acute (5), or attenuate (1); muticous (5), or awned (1). Upper glume oblong (1), or ovate (5); 0.2–0.265–0.33 length of adjacent fertile lemma; chartaceous; without keels; 5 -veined (1), or 7 -veined (5). Upper glume lateral veins with cross-veins (1/1). Upper glume apex acute (5), or attenuate (1); muticous (5), or awned (1); 1 -awned (1/1).

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate (1), or ovate (5); chartaceous; without keel; wingless; 5 -veined (1), or 7 -veined (3), or 9 -veined (2), or 10–11 -veined (1). Lemma surface smooth (5), or scabrous (2); unwrinkled; without grooves. Lemma margins eciliate (5), or ciliate (1). Lemma apex obtuse (1), or acute (4), or apiculate (1); muticous (4), or mucronate (1), or awned (1); 1 -awned (1/1). Palea 7 -veined (2/2). Palea keels separated (4), or contiguous above a sulcus (2); wingless (3), or winged (3); smooth (5), or scabrous (1); eciliate (5), or ciliate (1). Palea surface glabrous (4), or puberulous (2). Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 3; ciliate. Anthers 3. Stigmas 2 (3/4), or 3 (1/4). Ovary glabrous (1/1).

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid (2/2); apex unappendaged. Embryo 0.2 length of caryopsis. Hilum linear (2/2); 1 length of caryopsis.

DISTRIBUTION Tropical Asia.

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