Eremocaulon capitatum

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short; pachymorph. Culms erect; 500–700 cm long; woody. Culm-internodes terete; distally glabrous. Lateral branches dendroid. Branch complement several; in a clump. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate. Leaf-sheath auricles erect. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5 mm long; truncate. Collar with external ligule. Leaf-blade base with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 15–25 cm long; 8–14 mm wide; glaucous. Leaf-blade venation with 10–12 secondary veins. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Synflorescence bractiferous; globose; 2.5–5 cm long; with glumaceous subtending bracts; with axillary buds at base of spikelet; prophyllate below lateral spikelets.

Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–4 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets ovate; subterete; 12–15 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes two; persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 6 mm long; 11 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 8 mm long; 11 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 10–12 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 13 -veined. Lemma apex acute. Palea 1 length of lemma. Palea keels winged; narrowly winged. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 3; veined; ciliate. Anthers 6. Stigmas 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil.

NOTES Bambuseae. Munro 2001.

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