Chusquea peruviana

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes elongated; leptomorph. Culms arching; 200–300 cm long; woody; without nodal roots. Culm-internodes terete. Lateral branches dendroid. Branch complement many. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blade base with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath. Leaf-blades linear, or lanceolate; 4–5.5 cm long; 2.5–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; embraced at base by subtending leaf.

Panicle open; linear; 4–5 cm long; bearing few spikelets. Primary panicle branches indistinct the panicle almost racemose.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 5.5–6 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.8–1 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels. Lower glume apex obtuse, or acute. Upper glume ovate; 0.8–1 mm long; without keels. Upper glume apex obtuse, or acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea; attached to and deciduous with the fertile. Lemma of lower sterile floret lanceolate; chartaceous; acute. Lemma of upper sterile floret lanceolate; chartaceous; acute. Fertile lemma lanceolate; 5.5–6 mm long; coriaceous; without keel. Lemma surface puberulous; hairy above. Lemma apex acute.

FLOWER Lodicules 3. Anthers 3. Stigmas 2.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; apex unappendaged.

DISTRIBUTION South America: western South America.

NOTES Bambuseae. Gr Peru 1997.

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