Nastus rudimentifer

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes short; pachymorph. Culms scandent; 2000 cm long; 50 mm diam.; woody. Culm-internodes terete; 70–80 cm long. Lateral branches dendroid. Leaf-sheath oral hairs setose; 15 mm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blade base with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 15–30 cm long; 15–30 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; bracteate at branch bases.

Panicle open; 15–30 cm long. Primary panicle branches 5–10 cm long. Panicle branches pubescent.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 12 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

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

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 10 mm long; coriaceous; without keel. Lemma surface pubescent. Lemma apex acute. Palea coriaceous; 2-keeled. Rhachilla extension 1–2 mm long. Apical sterile florets 1 in number; male, or barren; rudimentary, or lanceolate; 0.5–1 mm long.

FLOWER Lodicules 3; 1.5 mm long; ciliate. Anthers 6; 6 mm long. 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.