Myriocladus churunensis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short; pachymorph. Culms erect; 200–300 cm long. Culm-internodes terete; distally glabrous. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths longer than adjacent culm internode. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blade base broadly rounded. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 15–30 cm long; 25–55 mm wide. Leaf-blade margins scabrous; ciliate; hairy at base. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes numerous; borne along a central axis; appressed; unilateral; 1–3.5 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 35 cm long; pubescent. Rhachis pubescent on surface.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels oblong.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 5.5–6 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 3 mm long; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume lanceolate; 4.5 mm long; membranous; without keels. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea; persisting on inflorescence. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to fertile lemma; ovate; 4 mm long; membranous; setaceously attenuate. Fertile lemma elliptic; 5 mm long; coriaceous; without keel. Lemma apex setaceously attenuate. Palea keels ciliate.

FLOWER Lodicules 3. Anthers 3. Stigmas 2.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: northern South America.

NOTES Bambuseae. Swallen 1996.

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