Colanthelia distans

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short; pachymorph. Culms scandent; woody. Culm-internodes terete; hollow. Lateral branches dendroid. Branch complement several; in a horizontal line; with subequal branches; thinner than stem. Leaf-sheaths striately veined; glabrous on surface; outer margin hairy. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate; 2–4 mm long. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 0.5 mm long. Leaf-blade base with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 2.5–6.5 cm long; 4–6 mm wide. Leaf-blade midrib prominent beneath. Leaf-blade venation with 24–30 secondary veins. Leaf-blade surface smooth, or scaberulous; rough abaxially; glabrous. Leaf-blade margins scabrous. Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes single; 3–4 cm long; bearing 3–4 fertile spikelets on each. Spikelet packing distant.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–4 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets linear; laterally compressed; 16–24 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 2–4 mm long; eventually visible between lemmas; glabrous.

GLUMES Glumes both absent or obscure.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 10–13 mm long; chartaceous; purple; 7 -veined. Lemma apex acuminate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

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

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil.

NOTES Bambuseae. Munro 2001.

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