Racemobambos holttumii

HABIT Perennial. Culms woody. Culm-internodes terete; hollow. Lateral branches dendroid. Branch complement several. Leaves cauline. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface, or pubescent. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blade base with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 5–11 cm long; 4–6 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; comprising 10–25 fertile spikelets; bracteate at pedicel base.

Panicle open; ovate; 3–9 cm long; bearing few spikelets. Panicle axis glabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–5 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets linear; laterally compressed; 15–20 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes several; 3 empty glumes; persistent; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 1.5 mm long. Upper glume ovate; 4 mm long; 7 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 5 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma margins ciliate. Lemma apex acute. Palea 4 mm long. Palea surface pubescent; hairy above. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

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

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: Papuasia.

NOTES Bambuseae. Dransfield 1996.

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