Schizostachyum glaucifolium

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short; pachymorph. Culms 300–1000 cm long; woody. Culm-internodes terete; hollow; dark green, or glaucous. Lateral branches dendroid. Branch complement one, or two. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blade base asymmetrical; with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath; petiole 0.5–1.5 cm long. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 21–45 cm long; 40–55 mm wide; light green. Leaf-blade venation with 22–30 secondary veins. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Synflorescence bractiferous; clustered at the nodes; in stellate clusters; 1.5–3 cm long; dense; 1–2 cm between clusters; with glumaceous subtending bracts; with axillary buds at base of spikelet; prophyllate below lateral spikelets; leafless between branches; 45 cm long overall.

Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets linear; subterete; 10–13 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes several; persistent; shorter than spikelet.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 10–13 mm long; chartaceous; without keel. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex attenuate. Palea tightly convolute around flower; chartaceous; without keels.

FLOWER Lodicules 3. Anthers 6. Stigmas 3. Ovary with a steeple-like appendage.

FRUIT Caryopsis with free brittle pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: Papuasia. Pacific: southwestern and south-central.

NOTES Bambuseae. Camus 1995.

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