Nastus longispicula

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes short; pachymorph. Culms scandent; woody. Culm-internodes terete; smooth. Lateral branches dendroid. Branch complement three; with 2 branches dominant. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blade base with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 11–27 cm long; 20–35 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; bracteate at branch bases.

Panicle open; 15–20 cm long. Primary panicle branches ascending; 4–8 cm long. Panicle branches pubescent.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 1–2 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 25 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes several; 6 empty glumes; lower persistent, upper deciduous (with floret); shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 4 mm long; chartaceous. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 9 mm long; coriaceous; without keels. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 19 mm long; coriaceous; without keel. Lemma apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 2 mm long overall. Palea 21 mm long; coriaceous; without keels. Palea surface pilose; hairy on margins; hairy above. Palea apex dentate; 2 -fid.

FLOWER Lodicules 3; 3–3.5 mm long; ciliate. Anthers 6. Stigmas 3. Ovary umbonate; pubescent on apex.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: Papuasia.

NOTES Bambuseae. Holttum 1996.

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