Indosasa laotica

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes elongated; leptomorph. Culms woody. Culm-internodes terete; hollow; smooth; distally glabrous. Lateral branches dendroid. Leaf-sheaths smooth; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blade base with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 7–11 cm long; 13–15 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade venation with 6–8 secondary veins; with distinct cross veins. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Synflorescence bractiferous; paniculate; with glumaceous subtending bracts; with axillary buds at base of spikelet; prophyllate below lateral spikelets.

Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 5–18 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets linear; subterete; 40–100 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes glabrous.

GLUMES Glumes two, or several; 2–3 empty glumes; persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 6–8 mm long. Lower glume surface glabrous. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 6–8 mm long. Upper glume surface glabrous. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 10–12 mm long; coriaceous; without keel. Lemma lateral veins with cross-veins. Lemma surface glabrous. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea 8–9 mm long. Palea keels ciliolate; adorned above. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 3. Anthers 6; 6–7 mm long; yellow. Stigmas 3. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: Indo-China.

NOTES Arundinarieae. Camus 2002.

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