Shibataea kumasasa

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes elongated; leptomorph. Culms erect; zigzag; 50–150 cm long; 3–5 mm diam.; woody. Culm-internodes semiterete; hollow; 3–10 cm long. Culm-nodes swollen; with distinct supra-nodal ridge. Lateral branches suffrutescent. Branch complement two, or three, or several; with subequal branches; thinner than stem. Culm-sheaths deciduous; chartaceous; without auricles; ciliate on shoulders. Culm-sheath blade linear. Leaves cauline; 1(–2) per branch; with sheath almost obsolete. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blade base with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath. Leaf-blades lanceolate, or ovate; 5–11 cm long; 20–25 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation with distinct cross veins. Leaf-blade surface pubescent; hairy abaxially. Leaf-blade margins scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Synflorescence bractiferous; fasciculate; dense; with glumaceous subtending bracts; without axillary buds at base of spikelet; prophyllate below lateral spikelets.

Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 15–18 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 4–7 mm long; 0.7–0.8 length of upper glume; chartaceous; without keels; 7–9 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 5–8 mm long; 0.7–0.8 length of adjacent fertile lemma; chartaceous; without keels; 7–9 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 18 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 9–11 -veined. Lemma apex acute. Palea 0.7–0.8 length of lemma.

FLOWER Lodicules 3; veined; ciliate. Anthers 3; 5–6 mm long. Stigmas 3. Ovary umbonate.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; 7 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: Caucasus, China, and eastern Asia.

NOTES Arundinarieae. Lin.

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