Athroostachys capitata

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short; pachymorph. Culms scandent; 300–800 cm long; 10–15 mm diam.; woody. Culm-internodes terete; hollow. Lateral branches dendroid. Branch complement three; in a horizontal line; with subequal branches. Leaf-sheath oral hairs setose; spreading. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blade base with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 8–40 cm long; 25–85 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation without cross veins.

INFLORESCENCE Synflorescence bractiferous; globose; with glumaceous subtending bracts; bracts 5 mm long; without axillary buds at base of spikelet.

Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 13–16 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 4–5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; chartaceous; without keels; 7 -veined. Lower glume apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Lower glume awn 2–5 mm long. Upper glume ovate; 4–5 mm long; 0.3–0.4 length of adjacent fertile lemma; chartaceous; without keels; 7 -veined. Upper glume apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 2–5 mm long.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 13–16 mm long; coriaceous; keeled; 7 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent; hairy above. Lemma hairs red. Lemma apex acuminate. Palea 1 length of lemma. Palea keels ciliate. Apical sterile florets 1 in number; barren; lanceolate; 10 mm long.

FLOWER Lodicules 3; oblanceolate; membranous; ciliate. Anthers 3. Stigmas 2.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil.

NOTES Bambuseae. WDC.

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