Guadua refracta

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short; pachymorph. Culms erect; 600–1200 cm long; woody. Culm-internodes terete; solid; distally pubescent. Lateral branches dendroid. Branch complement several; in a clump. Leaf-sheaths hirsute. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate; deciduous. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5 mm long; truncate. Collar with external ligule. Leaf-blade base with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath; petiole pubescent. Leaf-blades linear, or lanceolate; 15–20 cm long; 5–10 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation prominent; with 10–16 secondary veins; without cross veins. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially; pilose; hairy abaxially. Leaf-blade margins scabrous. Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Synflorescence bractiferous; clustered at the nodes; in untidy tufts; 1–4 cm between clusters; with spathaceous subtending bracts; bracts 2–3 mm long; with axillary buds at base of spikelet; prophyllate below lateral spikelets; leafless between branches.

Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 6–10 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets linear; subterete; 15–30 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes several; comprising 1–3 gemmiferous bracts; persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 6–7 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 7–11 -veined. Lemma surface glabrous, or pilose. Lemma apex obtuse; mucronate. Palea 1 length of lemma. Palea keels winged; conspicuously winged; ciliolate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 3. Anthers 6. Stigmas 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil.

NOTES Bambuseae. Munro 2001.

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