Racemobambos schultzei

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms leaning; woody. Culm-internodes terete; hollow; distally glabrous. Culm-nodes flush with internodes. Lateral branches dendroid. Branch complement several (below), or three (above); with subequal branches (below), or 1 branch dominant (above). Culm-sheaths deciduous; chartaceous; glabrous; without auricles. Leaves cauline. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate; 5–7 mm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blade base with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 9–18 cm long; 5–10 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; bracteate at pedicel base.

Panicle bearing few spikelets. Primary panicle branches indistinct the panicle almost racemose.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–4 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 25 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 7 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes two; persistent; shorter than spikelet.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 10.5–12 mm long; chartaceous; without keel. Palea surface pubescent; hairy on back; hairy above. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 3; 2 mm long; ciliate. Anthers 6. Stigmas 3. Ovary umbonate; pubescent on apex.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: Papuasia.

NOTES Bambuseae. Holttum 1996.

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