Arthrostylidium banaoense

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short; pachymorph. Culms woody. Culm-internodes terete. Culm-nodes pubescent. Lateral branches dendroid. Bud complement 1. Branch complement several; in a clump; subtended by a bare patch above the node; with 1 branch dominant; thinner than stem. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate; 3 mm long. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Collar with external ligule. Leaf-blade base with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath; petiole 0.1–0.2 cm long; petiole glabrous, or pubescent. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 5–10 cm long; 10–13 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade margins smooth. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; straight; bilateral; 5–10 cm long; bearing few fertile spikelets; bearing 4–7 fertile spikelets on each. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; distant.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 10 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes several; 3 empty glumes; persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 4–6 mm long; chartaceous; without keels. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 4–6 mm long; without keels. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 6–7 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 7–9 -veined. Lemma apex acute. Apical sterile florets 1 in number; rudimentary.

FLOWER Lodicules 3. Anthers 3. Stigmas 2.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Caribbean.

NOTES Bambuseae. Jud. & Clarke 2001.

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