Vietnamosasa ciliata

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes elongated; leptomorph. Culms woody. Culm-internodes terete. Lateral branches dendroid. Branch complement many. Leaf-sheaths striately veined; pubescent. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate; 5–7 mm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blade base with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 8–12 cm long; 8–10 mm wide; stiff; light green. Leaf-blade midrib conspicuous. Leaf-blade venation with 10 secondary veins; with distinct cross veins. Leaf-blade surface pilose; sparsely hairy; hairy abaxially. Leaf-blade margins scaberulous. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Synflorescence on a separate leafless culm. Inflorescence a panicle. Peduncle glabrous.

Panicle open. Panicle axis glabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 6–9 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets linear, or oblong; laterally compressed; 30–40 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 3–4 mm long; eventually visible between lemmas; pubescent. Floret callus disarticulating transversely.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 5 mm long; chartaceous; without keels. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 6–7 mm long; chartaceous; without keels. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 7–8 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 11–15 -veined. Lemma inner surface pubescent. Palea keels ciliate. Palea apex truncate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 3; ciliate. Anthers 6; 3.5–4 mm long. Stigmas 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; apex unappendaged.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: Indo-China.

NOTES Bambuseae. Lecomte 1996.

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