Nastus tsaratananensis

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes short; pachymorph. Culms woody. Culm-internodes terete. Lateral branches dendroid. Branch complement many. Leaf-sheaths puberulous. Leaf-sheath oral hairs setose. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 3.5–4 cm long; 3.5–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation with 24–28 secondary veins. Leaf-blade surface ribbed; glabrous. Leaf-blade margins scaberulous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate; hairy.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence comprising only a few spikelets; comprising 2–4 fertile spikelets.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 6 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes several; 3 empty glumes; lower persistent, upper deciduous (with floret); shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 1.2–1.6 mm long; chartaceous; 5 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume oblong; 5 mm long; chartaceous; without keels; 7 -veined. Upper glume surface puberulous; hairy at apex. Upper glume apex acute, or acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 5.5 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 7 -veined. Lemma apex acute, or acuminate; pubescent. Palea 3.5 mm long; coriaceous; without keels. Palea apex obtuse; pubescent. Rhachilla extension 2.5 mm long; glabrous. Apical sterile florets 1 in number; barren; elliptic; 1.5 mm long.

FLOWER Lodicules 3. Anthers 6. Stigmas 3. Ovary umbonate.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: western Indian ocean.

NOTES Bambuseae. Camus 1996.

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