Racemobambos novohibernica

HABIT Perennial. Culms 600–800 cm long; 5–11 mm diam.; woody. Culm-internodes terete; hollow; 15–20 cm long; yellow, or light green. Lateral branches dendroid. Branch complement many. Leaves cauline. Leaf-sheaths pubescent. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blade base with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath. Leaf-blades linear; 4–10 cm long; 3.5–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; comprising 6–11 fertile spikelets; bracteate at pedicel base.

Panicle open; linear; 4–6 cm long; bearing few spikelets. Panicle axis glabrous, or pubescent.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–4 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets linear, or oblong; laterally compressed; 12–30 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes several; 3 empty glumes; persistent; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 2.5 mm long; 1-keeled. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume apex acuminate, or attenuate. Upper glume ovate; 7 mm long; 5 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 10 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 7 -veined. Lemma surface glabrous to pubescent. Lemma margins ciliolate; hairy above. Lemma apex acuminate. Palea 6.5 mm long; 5–7 -veined. 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.