Spodiopogon bambusoides

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms decumbent; 100–140 cm long; 2–3 mm diam.; rooting from lower nodes. Lateral branches ample. Leaf-sheaths smooth; glabrous on surface. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 1 mm long. Leaf-blade base cuneate. Leaf-blades deciduous at the ligule; 9–15 cm long; 10–17 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface smooth; glabrous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle with branches tipped by a raceme.

Panicle open; elliptic; 10–12 cm long. Primary panicle branches spreading; profusely divided; rebranched above middle; 3–5 cm long. Panicle branches hirsute; hairy at tip.

Racemes bearing a triad of spikelets.

Spikelets in pairs, or in threes. Fertile spikelets pedicelled; 2 in the cluster, or 3 in the cluster. Pedicels clavate; unequal.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 4–4.7 mm long; falling entire. Spikelet callus pubescent; base obtuse. Spikelet callus hairs 0.7 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate, or oblong; 1 length of spikelet; chartaceous; pallid; without keels. Lower glume lateral veins ribbed. Lower glume surface pilose (except near apex). Lower glume apex acute; muticous, or mucronate. Upper glume lanceolate; chartaceous; pallid; without keels. Upper glume lateral veins ribbed. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret oblong, or ovate; hyaline; acute. Fertile lemma linear; hyaline. Lemma apex lobed; 2 -fid; with linear lobes; incised 0.5–0.6 of lemma length; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; geniculate; 6–8 mm long overall; with twisted column.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 2.8–3 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China.

NOTES Andropogoneae. Fl China 2003.

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