Dinochloa cordata

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short; pachymorph. Culms zigzag; 8–12 mm diam.; woody. Culm-internodes terete; with small lumen; 15–30 cm long; smooth. Lateral branches dendroid. Branch complement several; with 1 branch dominant; as thick as stem. Culm-sheaths 7–9 cm long; glabrous; auriculate; with 1 mm high auricles; setose on shoulders. Culm-sheath ligule fimbriate, or ciliate. Culm-sheath blade ovate; cordate; 7.5–11 cm long; 30–50 mm wide; glabrous on surface; acuminate. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface, or pubescent. Leaf-sheath oral hairs setose. Leaf-sheath auricles erect. Ligule an eciliate membrane; lacerate. Leaf-blade base with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 15–20 cm long; 25–40 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; puberulous; hairy abaxially. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Synflorescence bractiferous; clustered at the nodes; in oblong clusters; glabrous on internodes; with glumaceous subtending bracts; with axillary buds at base of spikelet; prophyllate below lateral spikelets; leafless between branches; 180–300 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 absent. Anthers 6; anther tip apiculate. Stigmas 3. Ovary umbonate; glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with fleshy pericarp; orbicular; isodiametric; 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.