Shibataea lancifolia

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes elongated; leptomorph. Culms erect; 45–100 cm long; 2–3 mm diam.; woody. Culm-internodes semiterete; 3–4 cm long; distally glabrous. Culm-nodes with distinct supra-nodal ridge. Lateral branches suffrutescent. Branch complement three, or several. Culm-sheaths deciduous; chartaceous; glabrous; without auricles; glabrous on shoulders. Culm-sheath blade inconspicuous. Leaves cauline; 1–2 per branch. Leaf-sheaths 2 cm long. Leaf-sheath oral hairs lacking. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 5 mm long. Leaf-blade base cuneate; with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 8–12 cm long; 8–15 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation with distinct cross veins. Leaf-blade surface pubescent; hairy abaxially. Leaf-blade margins scaberulous. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Synflorescence bractiferous; fasciculate; dense; with spathaceous subtending bracts; with axillary buds at base of spikelet; prophyllate below lateral spikelets.

Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1–2 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets linear; laterally compressed; 15–20 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes several; comprising 1–3 gemmiferous bracts; 0 empty glumes.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 12 mm long; chartaceous; light green; without keel; 11 -veined. Lemma apex acute. Palea 1 length of lemma.

FLOWER Lodicules 3. Anthers 3; yellow. Stigmas 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ovoid.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China.

NOTES Arundinarieae. Fl China 2006.

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