Atractantha radiata

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short; pachymorph. Culms scandent; 500–1200 cm long; 5–10 mm diam.; woody. Culm-internodes terete; solid. Lateral branches dendroid. Branch complement three; in a horizontal line; with 1 branch dominant; thinner than stem. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Leaf-sheath oral hairs setose; deciduous. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1 mm long. Collar with external ligule. Leaf-blade base asymmetrical; with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 10–18 cm long; 20–35 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation with obscure cross veins. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pubescent; sparsely hairy; hairy abaxially. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Synflorescence bractiferous; globose; 20–30 cm long; with glumaceous subtending bracts; bracts 7–9 mm long; with axillary buds at base of spikelet.

Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 15–19 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes both absent or obscure.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; subterete; 13–17 mm long; chartaceous; dark brown; shiny; without keel; 7–9 -veined. Lemma lateral veins obscure. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex acuminate. Palea tightly convolute around flower; 1.1 length of lemma; chartaceous; 2 -veined. Palea keels approximate; ciliolate. Rhachilla extension 1 length of fertile floret.

FLOWER Lodicules 3; lanceolate; membranous; ciliate. Anthers 3. Stigmas 2(–3). Ovary umbonate; pubescent on apex.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil.

NOTES Bambuseae. WDC.

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