Fimbribambusa microcephala

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short; pachymorph. Culms leaning; pendulous at the tip; 1200–1400 cm long; woody; without nodal roots. Culm-internodes terete; hollow; 30–45 cm long; smooth; distally pruinose. Lateral branches dendroid. Branch complement several; with subequal branches. Culm-sheaths deciduous but leaving a persistent girdle; 15 cm long; glabrous; auriculate; with 4 mm high auricles. Culm-sheath ligule 1.5–3 mm high; entire. Culm-sheath blade ovate; spreading, or reflexed. Leaves cauline. Leaf-sheath oral hairs scanty, or ciliate; curly; 5 mm long. Leaf-sheath auricles falcate. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Collar with external ligule. Leaf-blade base with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 17–21 cm long; 30–50 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation with distinct cross veins. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Synflorescence bractiferous; clustered at the nodes; in untidy tufts; with glumaceous subtending bracts; with axillary buds at base of spikelet; prophyllate below lateral spikelets.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–3 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 6–8 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 1 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 5.5–6.5 mm long; without keel. Lemma apex acute. Palea 8–10 -veined. Apical sterile florets 1 in number; male; rudimentary.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; 2 mm long; ciliate. Anthers 6. Stigmas 3. Ovary umbonate; pubescent on apex.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: Papuasia.

NOTES Bambuseae. Holttum 1996.

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