Sasa elegantissima

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes elongated; leptomorph. Culms erect; 50–80 cm long; woody. Culm-internodes terete; hollow; distally glabrous, or pubescent; with reflexed hairs. Culm-nodes glabrous, or pubescent. Lateral branches lacking. Culm-sheaths persistent; glabrous; without auricles. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Leaf-sheath oral hairs setose. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blade base with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath. Leaf-blades oblong; 15–22 cm long; 30–50 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pubescent; densely hairy; hairy abaxially. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong; 12 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 6–8 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets linear; laterally compressed; 20–30 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 1 mm long; scarious; without keels. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 2 mm long; scarious; without keels. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 6–9 mm long; chartaceous; without keel. Lemma apex acuminate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 3. Anthers 6. Stigmas 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; apex unappendaged.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: eastern Asia.

NOTES Arundinarieae. Ind. Jap. Bam. 2001.

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