Oreobambos buchwaldii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short; pachymorph. Culms geniculately ascending; 450–1800 cm long; 50–100 mm diam.; woody. Culm-internodes hollow; mid-green. Lateral branches dendroid. Branch complement two, or three; in an irregular line; with 1 branch dominant. Culm-sheaths pilose; with dark brown hairs; without auricles; setose on shoulders. Culm-sheath blade linear. Leaves cauline. Leaf-sheath oral hairs lacking. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blade base broadly rounded; with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath. Leaf-blades deciduous at the ligule; lanceolate to oblong; 10–35 cm long; 25–60 mm wide; light green, or glaucous. Leaf-blade venation with obscure cross veins. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Synflorescence bractiferous; clustered at the nodes; in oblong clusters; 1.5–2 cm long; dense; with spathaceous subtending bracts (an involucre of dark brown bracts 8–14 mm long); with axillary buds at base of spikelet; prophyllate below lateral spikelets; leafless between clusters.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed, or subterete; 12–15 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; shorter than spikelet; similar to fertile lemma in texture; shiny. Upper glume ovate; 9–11 mm long; 0.8–0.9 length of adjacent fertile lemma; chartaceous; dark brown; without keels; 11–18 -veined. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 10–13.5 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 11–23 -veined. Lemma lateral veins with cross-veins. Lemma margins convolute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea 5–11 -veined. Palea keels scaberulous. Rhachilla extension 0.5 length of fertile floret; pubescent.

FLOWER Lodicules absent. Anthers 6; anther tip apiculate. Stigmas 1; papillose. Ovary umbonate; pubescent on apex.

FRUIT Caryopsis with free soft pericarp; hairy at apex; apex umbonate.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: east tropical and southern tropical.

NOTES Bambuseae. FTEA.

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