Racemobambos gibbsiae

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes elongated; pachymorph. Culms scandent; 6–12 mm diam.; woody. Culm-internodes terete; hollow. Lateral branches dendroid. Branch complement several, or many; in a clump; with 1 branch dominant. Culm-sheaths without auricles. Leaves cauline; 6–8 per branch. Leaf-sheath oral hairs setose; 4–5 mm long. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blade base with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 4–10 cm long; 3.5–4 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes; bracteate at pedicel base (1mm long).

Racemes 1; single; paucilateral; 2–5 cm long; bearing few fertile spikelets; bearing 2–5 fertile spikelets on each.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; 15–20 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 5 mm long; pubescent; hairy at tip.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; dissimilar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 5 mm long; 0.6–0.7 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Lower glume margins ciliolate. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 7–8 mm long; 0.7–0.8 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 7 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 10–11 mm long; membranous; without keel; 7–9 -veined. Lemma margins pubescent. Lemma apex acute; mucronate. Principal lemma awn 0.5–1 mm long overall. Palea keels ciliolate; adorned above. Palea surface pubescent; hairy on back. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 3; ciliate. Anthers 6. Stigmas 3. Ovary umbonate; pubescent on apex.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: Malesia.

NOTES Bambuseae. WDC.

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