Atractantha falcata

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short; pachymorph. Culms scandent; woody. Culm-internodes terete. Lateral branches dendroid. Branch complement several; in a horizontal line; with 1 branch dominant; thinner than stem. Leaf-sheaths hispid. Leaf-sheath oral hairs setose. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blade base with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath; petiole 0.2 cm long; petiole pilose. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 5–10.5 cm long; 5–10 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation without cross veins. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or puberulous. Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Synflorescence bractiferous; paniculate; lax; with glumaceous subtending bracts and foliaceous subtending bracts.

Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 15 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes both absent or obscure.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; subterete; 15 mm long; chartaceous; without keel. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex acuminate. Palea tightly convolute around flower; chartaceous; 2 -veined. Palea keels approximate; ciliolate.

FLOWER Lodicules 3; membranous; ciliate. Anthers 3. Stigmas 2. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil.

NOTES Bambuseae. MacClure 1995.

ADDITIONAL CHARACTERS Synflorescence branches curved.

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