Cyrtochloa puser

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short; pachymorph. Culms erect, or scandent; zigzag; drooping at the tip; 700–1000 cm long; 25–30 mm diam.; woody. Culm-internodes terete; with small lumen; 30–40 cm long; mid-green, or dark green; smooth; distally pruinose. Lateral branches dendroid. Branch complement several to many; with 1 branch dominant. Culm-sheaths persistent; 8–15 cm long; coriaceous; glabrous; truncate at apex; auriculate; with 2–5 mm high auricles; with 10–30 mm wide auricles; ciliate on shoulders. Culm-sheath ligule 2 mm high; entire. Culm-sheath blade ovate; cordate; 8–13 cm long; 15–50 mm wide; pubescent (above); attenuate. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface; outer margin glabrous, or hairy. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate; curly; 4–7 mm long. Leaf-sheath auricles falcate; 1–3 mm long. Ligule a ciliate membrane. Leaf-blade base with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath; petiole 0.2–0.3 cm long. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 6–23 cm long; 22–36 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade margins scabrous. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Synflorescence bractiferous; clustered at the nodes; in oblong clusters; 1–1.5 cm long; dense; with glumaceous subtending bracts; with axillary buds at base of spikelet; prophyllate below lateral spikelets; leafless between clusters.

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 mm long; chartaceous; without keels; 7 -veined. Lower glume surface pubescent. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume ovate; 5–6 mm long; chartaceous; without keels; 9 -veined. Upper glume surface pubescent; hairy above. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 6–7 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 7 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent; hairy above. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex acuminate. Palea tightly convolute around flower; 6 mm long; chartaceous; 4 -veined; without keels.

FLOWER Lodicules 3; 1 mm long; ciliate. Anthers 6; anther tip with extended connective and pubescent. Stigmas 3. Ovary with a steeple-like appendage.

FRUIT Caryopsis with fleshy pericarp; obovoid; 7 mm long; rugose. 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.