Nastus lokohoensis

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes short; pachymorph. Culms woody. Culm-internodes terete; distally glabrous. Lateral branches dendroid. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface, or pubescent. Leaf-sheath oral hairs setose; 8–12 mm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5 mm long. Leaf-blade base with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 4–5 cm long; 3–4.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation without cross veins. Leaf-blade surface pilose; sparsely hairy; hairy abaxially. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong, or ovate; laterally compressed; 6.5–7 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes two; 4 empty glumes; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 3 mm long; chartaceous. Lower glume surface glabrous, or puberulous. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 3.5–4 mm long; chartaceous; without keels. Upper glume surface glabrous, or puberulous. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; with palea; attached to and deciduous with the fertile. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to fertile lemma; ovate; 4–5 mm long; coriaceous; 7–9 -veined; mucronate. Fertile lemma ovate; 5.5–6 mm long; coriaceous; keeled. Lemma surface glabrous. Lemma apex acute. Palea 5.5–6 mm long; coriaceous; 2-keeled. Palea apex obtuse. Apical sterile florets 1 in number; barren; elliptic.

FLOWER Lodicules 3. Anthers 6. Stigmas 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: western Indian ocean.

NOTES Bambuseae. Camus 2002.

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