Sphaerobambos philippinensis

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes short; pachymorph. Culms leaning, or scandent; 40–60 cm long; 25–50 mm diam.; woody. Culm-internodes terete; hollow; 60–70 cm long; smooth; distally glabrous. Lateral branches dendroid. Branch complement several. Culm-sheaths 9 cm long; smooth; glabrous; auriculate; with 2 mm high auricles; setose on shoulders. Culm-sheath blade lanceolate, or narrowly ovate; 6–16 cm long; 20 mm wide; glabrous on surface. Leaf-sheath oral hairs setose. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blade base with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 10–17 cm long; 15 mm wide. 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; leafless between branches.

Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 5 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; 15 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 3 mm long; chartaceous; without keels. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 3 mm long; chartaceous. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 6 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 9 -veined. Lemma surface glabrous. Lemma apex acute. Palea 8 mm long. Palea keels ciliolate. Palea surface pubescent; hairy on flanks.

FLOWER Lodicules absent. Anthers 6. Stigmas 3.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: Malesia.

NOTES Bambuseae. Dransfield 2001.

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