Cephalostachyum viguieri

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short; pachymorph. Culms scandent; 15–30 mm diam.; woody. Culm-internodes terete; hollow. Lateral branches dendroid. Leaf-sheaths reticulately veined; hirsute. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate. Leaf-sheath auricles erect. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blade base with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 9–13 cm long; 20–25 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation with 10 secondary veins; with distinct cross veins. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade margins scabrous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Synflorescence bractiferous; globose; 3.5–4.5 cm long; dense; with spathaceous subtending bracts; 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; 11–12 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes two; persistent; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate. Upper glume ovate; chartaceous; without keels. Upper glume apex cuspidate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 9 mm long; chartaceous; shiny; without keel. Lemma lateral veins obscure. Lemma surface glabrous. Lemma apex acuminate. Palea tightly convolute around flower; 10 mm long; chartaceous. Palea keels approximate. Palea surface glabrous.

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

FRUIT Caryopsis with free brittle pericarp; obovoid.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: western Indian ocean.

NOTES Bambuseae. Camus 2002.

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