Chimonocalamus lushaiensis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short; pachymorph. Culms erect; woody; with root thorns from the nodes. Culm-internodes terete; distally glabrous. Culm-nodes pubescent. Lateral branches dendroid. Branch complement several; in an irregular line; with subequal branches. Leaves 2–3 per branch. Leaf-sheaths outer margin glabrous, or hairy. Leaf-sheath oral hairs setose; erect. Leaf-sheath auricles falcate. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blade base cuneate; with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath. Leaf-blades deciduous at the ligule; lanceolate; 7–14 cm long; 8–15 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation with 6–8 secondary veins; with distinct cross veins. Leaf-blade surface smooth; glabrous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 8.8–14 cm long; 4–7 cm wide. Panicle axis puberulous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 5–20 mm long; pubescent.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising (3–)5–10 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets linear; laterally compressed; 40–80 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 8–10 mm long; eventually visible between lemmas; pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate, or ovate; 6 mm long; chartaceous. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate, or ovate; 7–8 mm long; chartaceous; without keels. Upper glume surface asperulous; rough at apex. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 12 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 5–7 -veined. Lemma apex acuminate. Palea 1 length of lemma. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 3; 2 mm long; membranous; ciliate. Anthers 3; 6.5 mm long. Stigmas 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: India.

NOTES Arundinarieae. Chao & Renv. 2002.

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