Schizostachyum lutescens

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Rhizomes short; pachymorph. Culms erect; pendulous at the tip; 2000 cm long; 20–40 mm diam.; woody. Culm-internodes terete; hollow; 45–60 cm long; distally glabrous, or pilose. Lateral branches dendroid; arising from mid culm. Branch complement several; in a clump; with subequal branches. Culm-sheaths deciduous. Leaf-sheath oral hairs setose; 12–14 mm long. Leaf-sheath auricles falcate; 1 mm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5–1 mm long. Leaf-blade base with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 13–22 cm long; 27–44 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pubescent; sparsely hairy; hairy abaxially. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Synflorescence bractiferous; clustered at the nodes; in untidy tufts; 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 diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 17 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; persistent; shorter than spikelet. Upper glume ovate; 14 mm long; chartaceous. Upper glume margins ciliate. Upper glume hairs white. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 12 mm long; chartaceous; without keel. Lemma margins eciliate, or ciliolate. Lemma apex attenuate. Palea 9 mm long; chartaceous. Palea apex dentate; 2 -fid. Rhachilla extension 2 mm long; glabrous. Apical sterile florets 1 in number; rudimentary.

FLOWER Lodicules absent. Anthers 6; 3 mm long; yellow; anther tip apiculate. Stigmas 3. Ovary with a steeple-like appendage; pubescent all over.

FRUIT Caryopsis with free brittle pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: Malesia.

NOTES Bambuseae. Widjaja 2002.

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