Cephalostachyum chapelieri

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short; pachymorph. Culms scandent; woody. Culm-internodes terete; antrorsely scabrous. Lateral branches dendroid. Branch complement several. Leaf-sheaths striately veined; outer margin hairy. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate. Leaf-sheath auricles falcate. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blade base with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 6–12 cm long; 12–18 mm wide; coriaceous. Leaf-blade venation with 10–12 secondary veins; with distinct cross veins. Leaf-blade surface hirsute; sparsely hairy. Leaf-blade margins scabrous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Synflorescence bractiferous; globose; 2 cm long; dense; with foliaceous subtending bracts; bracts 25–30 mm long; with axillary buds at base of spikelet; prophyllate below lateral spikelets.

Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 10–12 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes two; persistent; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 10–12 mm long; membranous; 7–11 -veined. Lower glume apex attenuate. Upper glume ovate; 10–12 mm long; membranous; without keels; 7–11 -veined. Upper glume apex attenuate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 10–12 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 5–7 -veined. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid. Palea tightly convolute around flower; chartaceous. Palea keels approximate.

FLOWER Lodicules absent. Anthers 6. Stigmas 3. Ovary with a steeple-like appendage.

FRUIT Caryopsis with free brittle pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: western Indian ocean.

NOTES Bambuseae. Munro 2002.

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