Merostachys fischeriana

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short; pachymorph. Culms scandent; 2000–3000 cm long; woody. Culm-internodes terete. Lateral branches dendroid. Branch complement many; flabellate; thinner than stem. Leaf-sheath oral hairs setose. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Collar with external ligule. Leaf-blade base with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath. Leaf-blades lanceolate, or oblong; 4–17 cm long; 9–15 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation with distinct cross veins. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; unilateral; 6–9 cm long. Rhachis terminating in a sterile spikelet. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; contiguous; regular; 2 -rowed.

Spikelets pectinate; solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 6–7 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 1–2 mm long; chartaceous. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume ovate; 3–4 mm long; 0.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; chartaceous. Upper glume apex obtuse; mucronate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 6–7 mm long; chartaceous; without keel. Lemma surface puberulous. Lemma apex acute. Palea 1 length of lemma; chartaceous. Palea keels contiguous above a sulcus.

FLOWER Lodicules 3. Anthers 3. Stigmas 2.

FRUIT Caryopsis with free brittle pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil.

NOTES Bambuseae. Gr Bahia 1997.

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