Chusquea longipendula

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes elongated; leptomorph. Culms arching; 600–1200 cm long; woody; without nodal roots. Culm-internodes terete; solid. Lateral branches dendroid. Branch complement several; in a clump; thinner than stem. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blade base with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 5–8 cm long; 4–8 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open. Primary panicle branches ascending.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 10 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; membranous; without keels. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume ovate; without keels. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea; attached to and deciduous with the fertile. Lemma of lower sterile floret ovate; chartaceous; acuminate. Lemma of upper sterile floret ovate; chartaceous; acuminate. Fertile lemma lanceolate; 9–10 mm long; coriaceous; without keel. Lemma apex acuminate.

FLOWER Lodicules 3; membranous. Anthers 3. Stigmas 2.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: western South America.

NOTES Bambuseae. Gr Bolivia 2001.

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