Racemobambos raynalii

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes elongated; pachymorph. Culms scandent; 6 mm diam.; woody. Culm-internodes terete; hollow; 15 cm long. Lateral branches dendroid. Branch complement several; in a clump; with subequal branches, or 1 branch dominant. Culm-sheaths without auricles. Leaves cauline. Leaf-sheath oral hairs setose; 5–10 mm long. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blade base with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath. Leaf-blades linear, or lanceolate; 10–17 cm long; 4–8 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; bearing few fertile spikelets; bearing 4–8 fertile spikelets on each. Rhachis pilose on surface.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 5–8 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; 35–45 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes flattened; 4 mm long; glabrous.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 4–5 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels. Lower glume surface puberulous. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 5.5–6.5 mm long; 1.1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 7 -veined. Upper glume surface puberulous; hairy at apex. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 5 mm long; membranous; without keel; 7 -veined. Lemma margins pubescent. Lemma apex acute. Palea 5.5 mm long; 4–6 -veined. Palea keels ciliolate. Palea apex ciliate. Apical sterile florets distinct from fertile; 1 in number; rudimentary.

FLOWER Lodicules 3; 1–1.5 mm long; ciliate. Anthers 6; 3.5 mm long. Stigmas 3. Ovary umbonate; glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: Papuasia.

NOTES Bambuseae. Dransfield 2001.

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