Chusquea polyclados

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes elongated; leptomorph. Culms 300–600 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; 5–12 cm long; 3–9 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle spiciform; linear; interrupted; 7–10 cm long. Panicle axis pubescent.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels pubescent.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 6–7 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 1.2–1.4 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels. Upper glume ovate; 1.2–1.4 mm long; without keels.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea; attached to and deciduous with the fertile. Lemma of lower sterile floret lanceolate; chartaceous. Lemma of upper sterile floret lanceolate; chartaceous. Fertile lemma lanceolate; 6–7 mm long; coriaceous; without keel. Lemma apex acute; muticous, or mucronate.

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.