Bambusa multiplex

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short; pachymorph. Culms erect; 200–400 cm long; 10–30 mm diam.; woody; without nodal roots. Culm-internodes terete; hollow; mid-green; distally glabrous. Lateral branches dendroid. Bud complement 1. Branch complement three, or several; in a clump; with 1 branch dominant; thinner than stem. Culm-sheaths deciduous; auriculate; ciliate on shoulders. Culm-sheath ligule 1–1.5 mm high. Culm-sheath blade triangular; 1–2 cm long; acute. Leaves 7–13 per branch. Leaf-sheath oral hairs setose; 3–5 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; petiole 0.1–0.2 cm long. Leaf-blades deciduous at the ligule; lanceolate; 7–10 cm long; 10–13 mm wide; dark green and glaucous; discolorous with last colour beneath. Leaf-blade surface puberulous; hairy abaxially. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

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

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 7–10 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 30–40 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes definite.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 15 mm long; without keel; 20 -veined. Lemma apex acute. Palea oblong; 1 length of lemma. Palea keels winged; ciliate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

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

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: western Indian ocean. Asia-temperate: Caucasus, western Asia, China, and eastern Asia. Asia-tropical: India, Indo-China, Malesia, and Papuasia. Australasia: New Zealand. Pacific: southwestern, south-central, northwestern, and north-central. South America: northern South America.

NOTES Bambuseae. Pohl.

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