Pseudoxytenanthera ritcheyi

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes short; pachymorph. Culms 300–450 cm long; 25–35 mm diam.; woody. Culm-internodes terete; solid; 37–45 cm long; distally pubescent. Lateral branches dendroid. Culm-sheaths 15–22 cm long; 2 times as long as wide; hispid; with appressed hairs; with white hairs; concave at apex. Culm-sheath ligule fimbriate. Culm-sheath blade lanceolate; 7.5 cm long. Leaf-sheaths striately veined; glabrous on surface, or pubescent. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 5 mm long; obtuse, or acute. Collar with external ligule. Leaf-blade base with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath; petiole 0.5 cm long. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 15–20 cm long; 20–40 mm wide; light green. Leaf-blade venation with 14–24 secondary veins. Leaf-blade surface pubescent; sparsely hairy; hairy abaxially. Leaf-blade margins scabrous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Synflorescence bractiferous; clustered at the nodes; in globose clusters; 5–6.5 cm long; dense; with glumaceous subtending bracts; with axillary buds at base of spikelet; prophyllate below lateral spikelets; leafless between clusters.

Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets linear; laterally compressed; 20–25 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes several; 2–3 empty glumes; similar; shorter than spikelet. Upper glume ovate; chartaceous; without keels. Upper glume apex acuminate; mucronate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma linear; 15 mm long; chartaceous; without keel. Lemma margins convolute. Lemma apex acuminate; mucronate. Palea chartaceous; without keels.

FLOWER Lodicules absent. Anthers 6; 5–7 mm long; anther tip apiculate and pubescent. Filaments united in a tube. Stigmas 1; plumose. Ovary umbonate; glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; linear; sulcate on hilar side. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: India.

NOTES Bambuseae. Gamble 1996.

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