Schizostachyum dumetorum

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Rhizomes short; pachymorph. Culms leaning; pendulous at the tip; 400–500 cm long; 10 mm diam.; woody. Culm-internodes terete; hollow; 15–30 cm long. Lateral branches dendroid. Branch complement many. Culm-sheaths 10–19.5 cm long; glabrous; convex at apex; without auricles; ciliate on shoulders; shoulders with 5–7 mm long hairs. Culm-sheath ligule 1 mm high; entire. Culm-sheath blade lanceolate; deciduous; pubescent. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blade base with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath. Leaf-blades lanceolate. Leaf-blade venation with distinct cross veins. Leaf-blade surface pilose; hairy adaxially. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Synflorescence bractiferous; clustered at the nodes; in untidy tufts; 5–6 cm long; with glumaceous subtending bracts; with axillary buds at base of spikelet; prophyllate below lateral spikelets.

Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; curved; subterete; 20 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes several; comprising 4–6 gemmiferous bracts; persistent; shorter than spikelet.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 12–14 mm long; chartaceous; purple; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins prominent. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex acute; awned. Palea tightly convolute around flower; 15 mm long; chartaceous; 7 -veined. Palea apex truncate. Rhachilla extension 2–4 mm long.

FLOWER Lodicules 3. Anthers 6; 5 mm long. Stigmas 3. Ovary with a steeple-like appendage.

FRUIT Caryopsis with free brittle pericarp; fusiform; 23–26 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China.

NOTES Bambuseae. McClure 1996.

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