Neohouzeaua mekongensis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short; pachymorph. Culms 1000–1500 cm long; woody. Culm-internodes terete. Lateral branches dendroid. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blade base with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 17–30 cm long; 25–40 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Synflorescence bractiferous; clustered at the nodes; in untidy tufts; with glumaceous subtending bracts; with axillary buds at base of spikelet; prophyllate below lateral spikelets; leafless between clusters; 40–50 cm long overall.

Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets linear, or oblong; laterally compressed; 22–24 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes elongated below proximal fertile floret. Rhachilla elongation 2 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes several; 3–4 empty glumes; persistent; shorter than spikelet. Upper glume lanceolate, or ovate; 5–9 mm long; chartaceous; without keels. Upper glume apex acute; mucronate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 14–17 mm long; chartaceous; without keel. Lemma lateral veins obscure. Lemma apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 1–2 mm long overall. Palea 17–19 mm long; chartaceous; without keels. Palea apex awned; awns 2 mm long.

FLOWER Lodicules absent. Anthers 6; 8 mm long; anther tip smooth. Filaments united in a tube. Stigmas 3. Styles 12–15 mm long. Ovary with a steeple-like appendage.

FRUIT Caryopsis with free brittle pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: Indo-China.

NOTES Bambuseae. Lecomte 1996.

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