Chusquea tarmensis

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes elongated; leptomorph. Culms 300–400 cm long; woody; without nodal roots. Culm-internodes terete. Lateral branches dendroid. Branch complement many; girdling the culm. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blade base with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 8–13 cm long; 5–10 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; lanceolate; 8–15 cm long. Panicle axis scabrous. Panicle branches scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 9–10 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.8–1.1 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume ovate; 0.8–1.1 mm long; without keels. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea; attached to and deciduous with the fertile. Lemma of lower sterile floret lanceolate; 3.5–4 mm long; chartaceous; ciliate on margins; mucronate. Lemma of upper sterile floret lanceolate; 5–6 mm long; chartaceous; ciliate on margins; mucronate. Fertile lemma elliptic; 8–9 mm long; coriaceous; without keel. Lemma apex acute. Palea 1 length of lemma.

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.