Glaziophyton mirabile

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Cataphylls evident. Rhizomes short; pachymorph. Culms erect; reed-like; 180–230 cm long. Culm-internodes unequal, the upper longer; terete; with septate pith. Lateral branches lacking (but little basal tillers bearing bamboo-like leaves appear after burning). Leaves with blades commonly suppressed, transferring photosynthetic function to sheath and culm. Ligule absent.

INFLORESCENCE Synflorescence bractiferous; paniculate; 20–70 cm long; with glumaceous subtending bracts; bracts 3–5 mm long; without axillary buds at base of spikelet; with simple branching; prophyllate below lateral spikelets.

Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising (1–)2(–3) fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 7–12 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes several; (0–)2(–3) empty glumes; persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 2.5–4 mm long; 0.7–0.8 length of upper glume; scarious; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 3–5 mm long; 0.6–0.8 length of adjacent fertile lemma; scarious; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 5–6 mm long; scarious; without keel; 7 -veined. Lemma apex acute. Palea 1 length of lemma; scarious; 2 -veined. Palea keels ciliolate. Apical sterile florets 1 in number; abscissing from fertile floret; barren; lanceolate; 3 mm long.

FLOWER Lodicules 3; lanceolate; membranous; veined; acute. Anthers 3; 3 mm long. Stigmas 2.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil.

NOTES Bambuseae. WDC.

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