Fargesia melanostachys

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short; pachymorph. Culms erect; 60–240 cm long; woody. Culm-internodes terete; hollow; 4–8 cm long. Lateral branches dendroid. Branch complement several. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blade base with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 2–3.5 cm long; 2–4.5 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes; comprising 3–4 fertile spikelets; embraced at base by subtending leaf.

Racemes 1; single.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 6–20 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–6 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 25–35 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 5–6 mm long. Floret callus pubescent. Floret callus hairs 0.8 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 8–11 mm long; chartaceous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Lower glume apex cuspidate. Upper glume elliptic; 11–14 mm long; chartaceous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Upper glume apex cuspidate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma 15–17 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 7 -veined. Lemma surface smooth, or scaberulous; rough on veins; glabrous, or puberulous; hairy between veins. Lemma apex cuspidate. Palea 10 mm long; 2 -veined. Palea keels ciliolate; adorned above. Palea apex dentate; 2 -fid. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 3. Anthers 3; 5 mm long. Stigmas 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; apex unappendaged.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China.

NOTES Arundinarieae. Keng 1996.

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