Nastus schlechteri

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes short; pachymorph. Culms scandent; woody. Culm-internodes terete. Lateral branches dendroid. Leaf-sheath oral hairs setose. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blade base with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 10–20 cm long; 15–30 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; bracteate at branch bases.

Panicle contracted; linear; 10–16 cm long. Primary panicle branches indistinct the panicle almost racemose. Panicle axis pubescent.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 10–11 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 setaceously attenuate. Upper glume ovate; coriaceous; without keels. Upper glume apex setaceously attenuate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 9–9.5 mm long; coriaceous; without keel. Lemma surface pubescent. Lemma apex acute. Palea 8 mm long; coriaceous; without keels. Palea surface pubescent; hairy above. Palea apex dentate; 2 -fid.

FLOWER Lodicules 3; 1.5 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.