Dinochloa andamanica

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes short; pachymorph. Culms prostrate, or scandent; zigzag; 2000–3000 cm long; 25 mm diam.; woody; rooting from lower nodes. Culm-internodes terete; hollow; 23–46 cm long. Culm-nodes swollen. Lateral branches dendroid. Branch complement several; with 1 branch dominant; as thick as stem. Culm-sheaths deciduous; 0.25 length of internode. Culm-sheath blade triangular; as wide as sheath at base. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface, or pubescent. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate. Leaf-sheath auricles falcate. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blade base with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 23–30 cm long; 50–75 mm wide. Leaf-blade midrib conspicuous. Leaf-blade venation with 14–18 secondary veins; with distinct cross veins. Leaf-blade surface smooth. Leaf-blade margins scabrous. Leaf-blade apex attenuate; filiform.

INFLORESCENCE Synflorescence bractiferous; clustered at the nodes; in globose clusters; dense; with glumaceous subtending bracts; with axillary buds at base of spikelet; prophyllate below lateral spikelets; leafless between branches.

Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; 2–2.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; persistent; shorter than spikelet. Upper glume ovate; chartaceous; without keels; 5–7 -veined. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 1.5–2 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 5–7 -veined. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea orbicular; involute; coriaceous; without keels.

FLOWER Lodicules absent. Anthers 6. Stigmas 2.

FRUIT Caryopsis with fleshy pericarp. Endosperm evanescent.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: Indo-China.

NOTES Bambuseae. Seeth. & Kumar 2002.

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