Cyrtochloa toppingii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short; pachymorph. Culms erect, or scandent; woody. Culm-internodes terete; with small lumen. Culm-nodes swollen. Lateral branches dendroid. Leaf-sheaths striately veined. Leaf-sheath oral hairs scanty. Ligule a ciliate membrane. Leaf-blade base broadly rounded, or cordate; with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath; petiole 1–2 cm long. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 12–30 cm long; 15–30 mm wide; coriaceous. Leaf-blade venation with 12 secondary veins. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade margins unthickened, or cartilaginous; scabrous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

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

Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; subacute; 5–8 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes several; 2–3 empty glumes; persistent; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 2 mm long; chartaceous; without keels; 5–7 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 4 mm long; chartaceous; without keels; 5–7 -veined. Upper glume apex acute; mucronate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 5 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 9 -veined. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex acute; mucronate. Palea tightly convolute around flower; 4–5 mm long; chartaceous; 5 -veined; without keels.

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

FRUIT Caryopsis with free brittle pericarp; orbicular; 6 mm long; light brown.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: Malesia.

NOTES Bambuseae. Gamble 1996.

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