Apoclada simplex

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short; pachymorph. Culms erect; 500–800 cm long; 25–50 mm diam.; woody. Culm-internodes terete; with small lumen; distally pubescent. Culm-nodes glabrous. Lateral branches dendroid. Branch complement several; in a horizontal line; with 3 branches dominant; thinner than stem. Culm-sheaths persistent; antrorsely scabrous; without auricles; ciliate on shoulders. Culm-sheath ligule 0.5–1 mm high. Culm-sheath blade triangular; erect; glabrous on surface; acuminate. Leaves cauline. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Leaf-sheath oral hairs setose; erect. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.2–0.5 mm long; erose; truncate. Collar with external ligule. Leaf-blades linear; convolute; 5–8 cm long; 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pubescent; hairy adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Synflorescence simple. Inflorescence comprising only a few spikelets; comprising 1 fertile spikelets; subtended by an unspecialized leaf-sheath; embraced at base by subtending leaf.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 8–12 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets lanceolate, or oblong; laterally compressed; 20–30 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes both absent or obscure.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 18–22 mm long; chartaceous; keeled; 9–11 -veined. Lemma surface puberulous; hairy on veins. Lemma apex acuminate. Palea lanceolate; 0.8 length of lemma. Palea keels ciliolate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 3; ovate; membranous; veined. Anthers 3(–5). Stigmas 2. Ovary umbonate.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil.

NOTES Bambuseae. Fl Cat.

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