Oligostachyum scabriflorum

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes elongated; leptomorph. Culms 100 cm long; woody. Culm-internodes terete. Lateral branches dendroid. Branch complement three. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface; outer margin glabrous. Leaf-sheath oral hairs lacking. Leaf-sheath auricles absent. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blade base with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath. Leaf-blades deciduous at the ligule; lanceolate; 8–13 cm long; 11–23 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough abaxially. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; comprising 6 fertile spikelets.

Panicle open; 16 cm long; bearing few spikelets.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels glabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets linear; laterally compressed; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes scaberulous; pubescent; hairy at tip.

GLUMES Glumes two; persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; chartaceous; 1-keeled. Lower glume surface asperulous. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume ovate; chartaceous; 1-keeled. Upper glume surface asperulous. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; chartaceous; without keel. Lemma lateral veins with cross-veins. Lemma surface scabrous; pilose; hairy at base. Lemma margins eciliate, or ciliolate; hairy above. Lemma apex acuminate. Palea keels eciliate. Palea surface scaberulous. Palea apex emarginate, or obtuse. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 3; ciliate. Anthers 3. Stigmas 3. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; apex unappendaged.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China.

NOTES Arundinarieae. McClure 2002.

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