Schizostachyum textorium

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short; pachymorph. Culms 20 mm diam.; woody. Culm-internodes terete; hollow; antrorsely scabrous. Lateral branches dendroid. Leaf-sheaths striately veined; glabrous on surface. Leaf-sheath oral hairs scanty. Ligule a ciliate membrane. Leaf-blade base simple; with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath; petiole 0.2–0.3 cm long. Leaf-blades linear; 7–15 cm long; 7–10 mm wide; light green. Leaf-blade venation indistinct; with 6 secondary veins. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade margins scabrous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Synflorescence bractiferous; clustered at the nodes; in untidy tufts; with spathaceous subtending bracts; with axillary buds at base of spikelet; prophyllate below lateral spikelets; 10 cm long overall.

Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 10 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes several; 1–2 empty glumes; persistent; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; chartaceous; without keels. Lower glume apex acute; awned; 3 -awned. Upper glume ovate; chartaceous; without keels. Upper glume apex acute; mucronate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 10 mm long; chartaceous; without keel. Lemma surface puberulous. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex acute; awned. Palea tightly convolute around flower; 1 length of lemma; chartaceous; without keels. Palea apex awned.

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

FRUIT Caryopsis with free brittle pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: Malesia.

NOTES Bambuseae. Gamble 1996.

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