Arundinella decempedalis

HABIT Perennial. Rootstock evident. Rhizomes elongated; scaly. Culms robust; 200–300 cm long. Culm-nodes pubescent. Lateral branches lacking. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 0.5–1 mm long. Leaf-blades 80–120 cm long; 10–30 mm wide. Leaf-blade midrib conspicuous. Leaf-blade surface smooth, or scabrous; glabrous, or pubescent; with tubercle-based hairs. Leaf-blade margins scabrous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; bearing juvenile spikelets at emergence. Peduncle scaberulous above.

Panicle open; lanceolate; dense; 25–50 cm long; 7–15 cm wide; contracted about primary branches. Primary panicle branches ascending; simple; 8–20 cm long. Panicle axis scaberulous. Panicle branches scabrous; bearded in axils.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled; 2 in the cluster. Pedicels scabrous; bearing a few hairs, or glabrous; hairy at tip.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 3.5–4 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus pubescent; obtuse.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; dissimilar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate; 2.5–3 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Lower glume surface scabrous; rough on veins. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 1.6 length of adjacent fertile lemma; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male, or barren; with palea; persisting on inflorescence. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; lanceolate, or elliptic; 2.5 mm long; chartaceous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined; obtuse. Fertile lemma lanceolate; 2 mm long; coriaceous; light brown; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins obscure. Lemma surface asperulous. Lemma margins involute; interlocking with palea keels. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; muticous, or awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; geniculate; 2–4 mm long overall; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn 1–2 mm long. Palea with auriculate flaps; coriaceous; 2 -veined. Palea surface asperulous.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3; 1–1.5 mm long. Stigmas 2.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Embryo 0.6 length of caryopsis. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China. Asia-tropical: India.

NOTES Arundinelleae. Bor 1993.

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