Bambusa oliveriana

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short; pachymorph. Culms erect; 1300–1500 cm long; 25–50 mm diam.; woody; without nodal roots. Culm-internodes terete; hollow; 35 cm long; distally pruinose, or glabrous. Lateral branches dendroid. Branch complement many. Culm-sheaths 20–25 cm long; 2 times as long as wide; glabrous; convex at apex; auriculate. Culm-sheath blade lanceolate, or triangular; cordate; 10–20 cm long; hispid. Leaves cauline. Leaf-sheaths striately veined; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; erose. Collar with external ligule. Leaf-blade base with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath; petiole 0.2–0.4 cm long. Leaf-blades linear; 10–18 cm long; 10–15 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation indistinct; with 8–10 secondary veins. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade margins scaberulous. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Synflorescence bractiferous; paniculate; lax; with spathaceous subtending bracts; with axillary buds at base of spikelet; prophyllate below lateral spikelets.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–4 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; 12–15 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes definite.

GLUMES Glumes several; 1–2 empty glumes.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate, or ovate; 10 mm long; without keel; 9 -veined. Lemma apex acuminate. Palea 11 -veined. Palea apex pubescent. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 3; membranous; veined; ciliate. Anthers 6; purple; anther tip smooth. Stigmas 3. Ovary umbonate.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: Indo-China.

NOTES Bambuseae. Gamble 1995.

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