Gigantochloa densa

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes short; pachymorph. Culms 300–600 cm long; woody. Culm-internodes terete. Lateral branches dendroid. Leaf-sheaths striately veined; hirsute. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Collar with external ligule. Leaf-blade base with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 5–12 cm long; 10 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pilose; hairy adaxially. Leaf-blade margins scaberulous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Synflorescence bractiferous; clustered at the nodes; in globose clusters; 2.5–3.5 cm long; with glumaceous subtending bracts; with axillary buds at base of spikelet; prophyllate below lateral spikelets.

Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets linear, or lanceolate; laterally compressed; 10–12 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating above glumes but not between florets.

GLUMES Glumes several; 3–4 empty glumes; persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Upper glume ovate; 2–5 mm long. Upper glume margins ciliate. Upper glume apex acute; mucronate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 9 mm long; chartaceous; without keel. Lemma margins ciliate. Lemma apex acute; mucronate. Palea 8 mm long; without keels. Palea apex truncate.

FLOWER Lodicules absent. Anthers 6; 5 mm long; anther tip with extended connective and pubescent. Filaments united in a tube. Stigmas 1. Ovary umbonate.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: Indo-China.

NOTES Bambuseae. Lecomte 1996.

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