Cyrtochloa fenixii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short; pachymorph. Culms erect, or scandent; drooping at the tip; 700–1000 cm long; 25–30 mm diam.; woody. Culm-internodes terete; with small lumen; 30–50 cm long; mid-green, or dark green; smooth; distally pruinose. Lateral branches dendroid. Branch complement several; with 1 branch dominant. Culm-sheaths persistent; 15 cm long; coriaceous; pilose; with tawny hairs; auriculate; with 9–20 mm wide auricles; ciliate on shoulders; shoulders with curved hairs; shoulders with 10–15 mm long hairs. Culm-sheath ligule 7–13 mm high; ciliate. Culm-sheath blade ovate; erect, or reflexed; 9–16 cm long; 23–56 mm wide; glabrous on surface; attenuate. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate; 5–10 mm long. Leaf-sheath auricles falcate; 3 mm long. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blade base asymmetrical; with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath; petiole 0.5 cm long. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 25–30 cm long; 35–45 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Synflorescence bractiferous; clustered at the nodes; in oblong clusters; 1 cm long; dense; with glumaceous subtending bracts; with axillary buds at base of spikelet; prophyllate below lateral spikelets; leafless between clusters; 150 cm long overall.

Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; 6 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes two; persistent; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 3.5 mm long; chartaceous; without keels; 5 -veined. Lower glume margins ciliolate. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 4 mm long; chartaceous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume surface hispidulous; hairy above. Upper glume apex acuminate; mucronate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 5 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex acute. Palea tightly convolute around flower; 5.5–6 mm long; chartaceous; 6 -veined; without keels.

FLOWER Lodicules 3; 1.5–2 mm long; ciliate. Anthers 6; 4–4.5 mm long; anther tip with extended connective and pubescent. Stigmas 3. Ovary with a steeple-like appendage; pubescent on apex.

FRUIT Caryopsis with fleshy pericarp; oblong; 7 mm long. Embryo with basal plumule. Endosperm evanescent.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: Malesia.

NOTES Bambuseae. Dransfield 1999.

ADDITIONAL CHARACTERS Hyaline scale 5mm long inside palea.

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