Nastus elatus

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes short; pachymorph. Culms erect; 1500–2000 cm long; woody. Culm-internodes terete; 30–45 cm long. Lateral branches dendroid. Branch complement many. Culm-sheaths smooth. Culm-sheath ligule 1.5 mm high; ciliolate. Culm-sheath blade lanceolate; erect, or reflexed; 22 cm long; 42 mm wide. Leaves 5–6 per branch. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blade base with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath. Leaf-blades linear; 8–16 cm long; 4–8 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; bracteate at branch bases.

Panicle open; lanceolate; 8–15 cm long. Primary panicle branches ascending; 2–5 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 14 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes several; 5 empty glumes; lower persistent, upper deciduous (with floret); shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; chartaceous. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; coriaceous; without keels. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 11–12 mm long; coriaceous; without keel. Lemma apex acute. Palea coriaceous; without keels.

FLOWER Lodicules 3; 1 mm long; ciliate. Anthers 6; 4.5 mm long. Stigmas 3. Ovary umbonate; pubescent on apex.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: Papuasia. Pacific: southwestern.

NOTES Bambuseae. Holttum 1996.

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