Gigantochloa tenuispiculata

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes short; pachymorph. Culms woody. Culm-internodes terete; distally pubescent. Lateral branches dendroid. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Collar with external ligule. Leaf-blade base with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath. Leaf-blades lanceolate. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Synflorescence bractiferous; clustered at the nodes; in stellate clusters; 4–5 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 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets linear; laterally compressed; 20–25 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating above glumes but not between florets.

GLUMES Glumes several; 4–5 empty glumes; persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 2 mm long. Lower glume surface glabrous, or puberulous; hairy above. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 8 mm long. Upper glume surface glabrous, or puberulous; hairy above. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret lanceolate; 16 mm long; acuminate; mucronate. Palea of lower sterile floret 10–11 mm long; pilose; adorned on keels. Fertile lemma oblong; 20–23 mm long; chartaceous; without keel. Lemma apex acute. Palea without keels. Palea surface pilose; hairy on margins.

FLOWER Lodicules absent. Anthers 6; 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.