Guadua macclurei

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short; pachymorph. Culms arching; pendulous at the tip; 600–1500 cm long; 30–40 mm diam.; woody; with root thorns from the nodes. Culm-internodes terete; hollow; 35–55 cm long; mid-green; distally pubescent. Culm-nodes pubescent. Lateral branches dendroid. Branch complement several; with 1 branch dominant; thinner than stem. Culm-sheaths deciduous; hispid; hairy throughout; with white hairs; without auricles, or auriculate; glabrous on shoulders, or ciliate on shoulders. Culm-sheath ligule 1.5–2 mm high. Culm-sheath blade triangular; 7–14 cm long; hispid; acuminate. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface, or hispid; outer margin hairy. Leaf-sheath oral hairs setose; spreading; 5–9 mm long. Leaf-sheath auricles falcate. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 0.1–0.4 mm long. Collar with external ligule. Leaf-blade base with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath; petiole 0.15–0.25 cm long; petiole pilose. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 13–26 cm long; 16–48 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade margins ciliate.

INFLORESCENCE Synflorescence bractiferous; clustered at the nodes; dense; with glumaceous subtending bracts; bracts 2–2.5 mm long; with axillary buds at base of spikelet; prophyllate below lateral spikelets; leafless between clusters (branches 15–30cm long).

Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 8.5–9 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 6–7.5 mm long; coriaceous; without keels; 11–13 -veined. Lower glume apex rostrate. Upper glume ovate; 8–8.7 mm long; coriaceous; without keels; 11–13 -veined. Upper glume apex rostrate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 8.5–9 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 11–15 -veined. Lemma surface puberulous; hairy above. Lemma apex apiculate. Palea bowed outwards; 1 length of lemma; 8–10 -veined. Palea keels winged; conspicuously winged. Rhachilla extension 3–5 mm long. Apical sterile florets distinct from fertile; 1 in number; barren; linear; 3.5–5 mm long.

FLOWER Lodicules 3; veined. Anthers 6; 5 mm long; yellow. Stigmas 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Mesoamericana.

NOTES Bambuseae. Pohl & Davidse 1995.

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