Dinochloa robusta

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short; pachymorph. Culms scandent; zigzag; woody. Culm-internodes terete; with small lumen; 30 cm long; distally hispid. Lateral branches dendroid. Branch complement many; with 1 branch dominant; as thick as stem. Culm-sheaths hispid; hairy at the base; with tawny hairs; without auricles. Culm-sheath ligule 0.5–1 mm high; entire. Culm-sheath blade ovate; cordate; reflexed; 11–18 cm long; 30–55 mm wide; pubescent; acuminate. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blade base with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 9.5–17 cm long; 15–25 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Synflorescence bractiferous; clustered at the nodes; in untidy tufts; with glumaceous subtending bracts; with axillary buds at base of spikelet; prophyllate below lateral spikelets; leafless between branches; 200 cm long overall.

Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; 2.5–3 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes several; 2–3 empty glumes; persistent; dissimilar; shorter than spikelet.

FLORETS Fertile lemma orbicular; 2–2.5 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 7 -veined. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea orbicular; involute; coriaceous; 8 -veined; without keels. Palea apex obtuse.

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

FRUIT Caryopsis with fleshy pericarp; orbicular; isodiametric. Endosperm evanescent.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: Malesia.

NOTES Bambuseae. Dransfield 1995.

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