Dinochloa barbata

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short; pachymorph. Culms zigzag; 7 mm diam.; woody. Culm-internodes terete; with small lumen, or solid; 30 cm long; smooth. Lateral branches dendroid. Branch complement several; with 1 branch dominant; as thick as stem. Culm-sheaths 9–10 cm long; pubescent; hairy at the base; with tawny hairs; auriculate; with 13 mm high auricles; setose on shoulders; shoulders with 17 mm long hairs. Culm-sheath ligule 22 mm high; fimbriate. Culm-sheath blade narrowly ovate; constricted at base; erect, or reflexed; 11–14 cm long; 35–37 mm wide; pubescent; attenuate. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Leaf-sheath oral hairs setose. Leaf-sheath auricles erect. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1–1.5 mm long. Leaf-blade base with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 17–42 cm long; 25–53 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface smooth; glabrous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Synflorescence bractiferous; clustered at the nodes; in compact unilateral clumps; glabrous on internodes; with glumaceous subtending bracts; with axillary buds at base of spikelet; prophyllate below lateral spikelets; leafless between branches; 100 cm long overall.

Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 3 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes two; persistent; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume oblate. Lower glume apex truncate. Upper glume oblate. Upper glume apex truncate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 3 mm long; coriaceous; without keel. Lemma apex truncate. Palea involute; coriaceous; without keels.

FLOWER Lodicules 3. Anthers 6; anther tip apiculate. Stigmas 3. Ovary umbonate; glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with fleshy pericarp; orbicular; isodiametric; 3 mm long; smooth; glabrous. Endosperm evanescent.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: Malesia.

NOTES Bambuseae. Dransfield 1995.

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