Arundinella nepalensis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short. Basal innovations extravaginal. Culms erect; 60–180 cm long; 1.5–5 mm diam. Culm-nodes pubescent. Leaves cauline. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1 mm long; truncate. Leaf-blades 8–30 cm long; 3–10 mm wide; coriaceous; stiff. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pilose. Leaf-blade apex obtuse; hardened.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; bearing juvenile spikelets at emergence.

Panicle open; lanceolate; 10–40 cm long; contracted about primary branches. Panicle branches angular; scaberulous.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled; 2 in the cluster. Pedicels filiform; angular.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 4–6 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus bearded; obtuse. Floret callus hairs 0.2–0.3 length of lemma.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; dissimilar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma; gaping. Lower glume ovate; 3–5 mm long; 0.6–0.9 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acute, or acuminate, or setaceously attenuate. Upper glume ovate; 1.5–2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 5 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scabrous. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male; with palea; persisting on inflorescence. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; ovate; 1.3 length of fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 5 -veined; acute. Fertile lemma ovate; dorsally compressed; lanceolate in profile; 2–2.5 mm long; coriaceous; dark brown; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins obscure. Lemma surface asperulous. Lemma margins involute; interlocking with palea keels. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; geniculate; 4–6 mm long overall; with twisted column. Palea lanceolate; with auriculate flaps; 1 length of lemma; coriaceous; 2 -veined. Palea surface asperulous. Palea apex dentate; 2 -fid.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3; 1.7 mm long. Stigmas 2; protandrous; laterally exserted.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; oblong. Hilum punctiform. Endosperm farinose.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: west tropical, west-central tropical, east tropical, southern tropical, south, and western Indian ocean. Asia-temperate: Arabia and China. Asia-tropical: India and Indo-China. Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Arundinelleae. WDC.

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