Ochlandra beddomei

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short; pachymorph. Culms woody. Culm-internodes terete; hollow. Lateral branches dendroid. Leaves cauline. Leaf-sheaths striately veined; puberulous; outer margin hairy. Leaf-sheath oral hairs setose. Leaf-sheath auricles falcate. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blade base asymmetrical; with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath; petiole 0.5 cm long. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 15–20 cm long; 25–40 mm wide. Leaf-blade midrib evident. Leaf-blade venation with 16 secondary veins; without cross veins. Leaf-blade margins cartilaginous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Synflorescence bractiferous; clustered at the nodes; in untidy tufts; with spathaceous subtending bracts; with axillary buds at base of spikelet; prophyllate below lateral spikelets; leafy between clusters.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 25–40 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes several; comprising 2–3 gemmiferous bracts; 2 empty glumes; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 15 mm long. Lower glume surface hispid; with tubercle-based hairs. Lower glume hairs dark brown. Lower glume apex acute; mucronate. Upper glume ovate. Upper glume surface hispid; with tubercle-based hairs. Upper glume hairs dark brown. Upper glume apex acute; mucronate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 30 mm long; chartaceous; without keel. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex acute; mucronate. Palea 25 mm long.

FLOWER Lodicules several (5); lanceolate; 14–16 mm long; membranous; veined; glabrous, or ciliate. Anthers 32; 12–16 mm long; anther tip apiculate. Filaments free. Stigmas 5–6. Ovary with a steeple-like appendage; glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with fleshy pericarp. Endosperm farinose.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: India.

NOTES Bambuseae. Gamble 1996.

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