Thyrsostachys oliveri

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short; pachymorph. Culms erect; 1500–2500 cm long; 50–70 mm diam.; woody. Culm-internodes terete; 40–60 cm long. Lateral branches dendroid. Branch complement many; in a horizontal line; with 1 branch dominant; thinner than stem. Culm-sheaths persistent; 0.75 length of internode; chartaceous; pubescent; hairy throughout; with white hairs; without auricles. Culm-sheath ligule 0.2 mm high. Culm-sheath blade linear; 20–25 cm long; pubescent. Leaves cauline. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blade base with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath; petiole 0.2–0.5 cm long. Leaf-blades deciduous at the ligule; lanceolate; 17–20 cm long; 12–18 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation without cross veins. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; rough on both sides; pubescent; hairy abaxially. Leaf-blade margins scabrous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Synflorescence bractiferous; linear; with spathaceous subtending bracts; bracts 12–18 mm long; with axillary buds at base of spikelet; with simple branching; prophyllate below lateral spikelets.

Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–3 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; 12–25 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 10–12 mm long; 0.8–1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 11–13 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins with cross-veins. Lower glume surface pubescent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 12 mm long; 0.5–0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 12–13 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins with cross-veins. Upper glume surface pubescent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 17–25 mm long; membranous; without keel; 9–13 -veined. Lemma lateral veins with cross-veins. Lemma surface pubescent. Lemma apex acute. Palea 1 length of lemma; 3–5 -veined; 2-keeled but the uppermost without keels. Palea keels ciliate. Palea surface pubescent; hairy on back. Palea apex dentate (upper), or lobed (lower for 0.25 its length).

FLOWER Lodicules 2; lanceolate; ciliate; acute. Anthers 6. Stigmas 3. Ovary umbonate; glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; 10 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China. Asia-tropical: India and Indo-China.

NOTES Bambuseae. Gamble 1993.

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