Holttumochloa magica

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short; pachymorph. Culms 300–500 cm long; woody; without nodal roots. Culm-internodes terete; hollow; 30–60 cm long. Lateral branches dendroid. Branch complement many; in a clump. Culm-sheaths 15–25 cm long; hispid; with dark brown hairs; convex at apex; auriculate; setose on shoulders. Culm-sheath blade lanceolate; reflexed; 10 cm long; 3 mm wide. Leaf-sheath oral hairs lacking, or ciliate. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Collar with external ligule. Leaf-blade base with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 8–16 cm long; 8–15 mm wide; mid-green and glaucous; discolorous with last colour beneath. Leaf-blade surface glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Synflorescence bractiferous; clustered at the nodes; in untidy tufts; with glumaceous subtending bracts and foliaceous subtending bracts; bracts 20–30 mm long; with axillary buds at base of spikelet; prophyllate below lateral spikelets.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 20–25 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes definite; flattened; 3–5 mm long; pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes several; 1 empty glumes.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 10–15 mm long; without keel. Lemma margins ciliolate. Lemma apex apiculate. Palea keels ciliolate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 3; 4–5 mm long; ciliate. Anthers 6; 4–5 mm long. Ovary umbonate.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: Malesia.

NOTES Bambuseae. Holttum 1995.

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