Racemobambos kutaiensis

HABIT Perennial. Culms woody. Culm-internodes terete; hollow. Lateral branches dendroid. Branch complement several. Leaves cauline. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface, or puberulous; outer margin glabrous, or hairy. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blade base with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath. Leaf-blades lanceolate; conduplicate, or convolute; 15–17 cm long; 5–7 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; comprising 5–12 fertile spikelets; bracteate at pedicel base.

Panicle open; linear; bearing few spikelets. Primary panicle branches indistinct the panicle almost racemose. Panicle axis glabrous, or puberulous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–5 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets linear, or oblong; laterally compressed; 34–42 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 5 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes several; 3 empty glumes; persistent; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 3 mm long; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume ovate; 9 mm long; 7 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 12–15 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 11 -veined. Lemma apex acuminate. Palea 11–12 mm long; 8–10 -veined. Palea keels pubescent. Palea surface pubescent; hairy above. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 3; ciliate. Anthers 6; 7 mm long. Stigmas 3. Ovary umbonate; pubescent on apex.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: Malesia.

NOTES Bambuseae. Dransfield 1996.

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