Filgueirasia cannavieira

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes short; pachymorph. Culms 50–110 cm long; 6–7 mm diam.; woody. Culm-internodes terete; hollow; distally glabrous. Culm-nodes glabrous. Lateral branches dendroid. Branch complement several; in a horizontal line; with subequal branches; thinner than stem. Culm-sheaths deciduous. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blade base with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 15–20 cm long; 8–10 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Synflorescence simple. Inflorescence comprising only a few spikelets; comprising 1 fertile spikelets; subtended by an inflated leaf-sheath; embraced at base by subtending leaf.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 10–14 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets linear; laterally compressed; 33–50 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes both absent or obscure.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 15–17 mm long; chartaceous; keeled; 15–17 -veined. Lemma apex acute. Palea keels scabrous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 3; 2.5 mm long; membranous; ciliate. Anthers 3; 7–8 mm long. Stigmas 2. Ovary pubescent on apex.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil.

NOTES Bambuseae. MacClure 1997.

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