Eremocaulon aureofimbriatum

HABIT Perennial; culms solitary. Rhizomes elongated; pachymorph. Culms erect; 1000–1100 cm long; 25–35 mm diam.; woody. Culm-internodes terete; with small lumen. Lateral branches dendroid. Bud complement 1. Branch complement many; in a clump; with 1 branch dominant. Culm-sheaths persistent; hispid; hairy throughout; with dark brown hairs; auriculate; setose on shoulders. Culm-sheath ligule 4–5 mm high; ciliate. Culm-sheath blade linear; reflexed; 25–30 cm long. Leaves cauline; 9–16 per branch. Leaf-sheaths outer margin hairy. Leaf-sheath oral hairs setose. Leaf-sheath auricles falcate. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5–1 mm long. Collar with external ligule. Leaf-blades deciduous at the ligule; lanceolate; 18–23 cm long; 8–16 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Synflorescence bractiferous; scanty; 15–30 cm long; with glumaceous subtending bracts; without axillary buds at base of spikelet; prophyllate below lateral spikelets.

Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–11 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets linear; laterally compressed; 50–180 mm long; 6 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes pilose.

GLUMES Glumes several; 2–4 empty glumes; persistent; similar; firmer than fertile lemma. Upper glume lanceolate; 15–22 mm long; coriaceous; without keels; 10–20 -veined. Upper glume margins ciliate. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 20–25 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 24–29 -veined. Lemma lateral veins with cross-veins. Lemma apex acute. Palea chartaceous; 14–18 -veined. Palea keels ciliate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 3; veined; ciliate. Anthers 6; 10–12 mm long. Stigmas 2. Ovary pubescent on apex.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil.

NOTES Bambuseae. WDC.

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