Perrierbambus madagascariensis

HABIT Perennial; culms solitary. Rhizomes elongated; leptomorph. Culms erect; 500–600 cm long; 20–30 mm diam.; woody. Culm-internodes terete; hollow. Lateral branches dendroid. Branch complement many; thinner than stem. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blades deciduous at the ligule; elliptic, or ovate.

INFLORESCENCE Synflorescence bractiferous; scanty; dense; with foliaceous subtending bracts; without axillary buds at base of spikelet; with ultimate bract subtending a compact bracteolate fascicle of spikelets.

Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; 10 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 5 mm long; 0.8 length of upper glume; chartaceous; without keels; 11 -veined. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume ovate; 6–6.5 mm long; 0.6–0.7 length of adjacent fertile lemma; chartaceous; without keels; 13–15 -veined. Upper glume margins ciliolate. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 9 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 17 -veined. Lemma surface puberulous. Lemma apex acute. Palea lanceolate; 1 length of lemma; chartaceous; 10–12 -veined; without keels.

FLOWER Lodicules 3. Anthers 6. Stigmas 2. Ovary umbonate.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; obovoid.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: western Indian ocean.

NOTES Bambuseae. Camus.

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