Aulonemia ramosissima

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes short; pachymorph. Culms woody. Culm-internodes terete. Culm-nodes without obvious supra-nodal ridge. Lateral branches dendroid. Bud complement 1. Leaf-sheaths mostly shorter than adjacent culm internode; glabrous on surface. Leaf-sheath oral hairs setose; 25 mm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5 mm long; truncate. Collar with external ligule. Leaf-blade base with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath. Leaf-blades ovate; 5–15 cm long; 10–25 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation with distinct cross veins. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; rough abaxially; glabrous. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; dense; 15–30 cm long. Primary panicle branches appressed; 1 -nate; 10–20 cm long. Panicle axis scabrous. Panicle branches with prominent pulvini.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 8 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets linear; subterete; 40 mm long; 2.5 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 4 mm long; glabrous.

GLUMES Glumes several; 4 empty glumes; persistent; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 3–4 mm long; membranous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Lower glume apex obtuse; mucronate. Upper glume lanceolate; 5–7 mm long; membranous; without keels; 5–7 -veined. Upper glume apex obtuse; mucronate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 7–8 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 7 -veined. Lemma lateral veins obscure. Lemma apex obtuse; mucronate. Palea keels ciliolate.

FLOWER Lodicules 3. Anthers 3. Stigmas 2.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil.

NOTES Bambuseae. Soderstrom 1995.

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