Arthrostylidium haitiense

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short; pachymorph. Culms scandent; slender; 200–300 cm long; woody. Culm-internodes terete; with small lumen; antrorsely scabrous; distally glabrous. Lateral branches fastigiate. Branch complement many; in a clump; subtended by a bare patch above the node; with subequal branches. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Leaf-sheath oral hairs scanty; deciduous. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blade base with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath; petiole 0.2 cm long; petiole pubescent. Leaf-blades deciduous at the ligule; lanceolate; 4–7 cm long; 3–6 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade margins smooth, or scaberulous. Leaf-blade apex obtuse; hairy.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes; terminal and axillary.

Racemes 1; single; straight; bilateral; 5 cm long; bearing 4–8 fertile spikelets on each. Spikelet packing distant.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–3 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets linear; laterally compressed; 15 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes clavate; 3 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes several; 3 empty glumes; persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 6–6.5 mm long; chartaceous; without keels; 7 -veined. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume lanceolate; 6–6.5 mm long; 7 -veined. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate, or ovate; 7–8 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 7 -veined. Lemma apex acute; mucronate. Palea 1 length of lemma. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 3. Anthers 3. Stigmas 2. Ovary umbonate.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Caribbean.

NOTES Bambuseae. Pilger 1997.

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