Merostachys brevispica

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short; pachymorph. Culms erect; 150–400 cm long; woody. Culm-internodes terete; hollow. Lateral branches dendroid. Bud complement 1. Branch complement many; flabellate. Leaf-sheaths pubescent. Leaf-sheath oral hairs setose. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blade base with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath. Leaf-blades lanceolate, or oblong; 7–10 cm long; 10–15 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; arcuate; unilateral; 4 cm long. Rhachis terminating in a sterile spikelet. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; contiguous; regular; 2 -rowed.

Spikelets pectinate. Fertile spikelets sessile.

STERILE SPIKELETS Apical sterile spikelets rudimentary.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; compressed slightly; 11–12 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; persistent; shorter than spikelet. Upper glume ovate; 3.5–4 mm long; 0.33 length of adjacent fertile lemma; chartaceous; without keels. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea; attached to and deciduous with the fertile. Lemma of lower sterile floret ovate; 6–7 mm long; 0.5 length of fertile lemma; chartaceous; pubescent; acute. Fertile lemma ovate; 11–12 mm long; chartaceous; without keel. Lemma surface pubescent. Lemma apex acute. Palea 1 length of lemma; chartaceous. Palea keels contiguous above a sulcus. Rhachilla extension 11–12 mm long.

FLOWER Lodicules 3. Anthers 3. Stigmas 2.

FRUIT Caryopsis with free brittle pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: western South America.

NOTES Bambuseae. Gr Peru 1995.

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