Yushania humbertii

HABIT Perennial. Culms erect; 600–800 cm long; woody. Culm-internodes terete; hollow. Lateral branches dendroid. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate; 4–8 mm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; truncate. Leaf-blade base with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 7–15 cm long; 10–12 mm wide; coriaceous; glaucous. Leaf-blade venation with 8–10 secondary veins; with distinct cross veins. Leaf-blade surface glabrous; hairless except near base. Leaf-blade margins scaberulous. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle 12–20 cm long. Panicle branches scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 13–18 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 5–6 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 30–55 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 7–8 mm long; pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 6 mm long; chartaceous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume margins ciliate. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 7–8 mm long; chartaceous; without keels; 7 -veined. Upper glume apex acute; mucronate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong, or ovate; 11.5 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 9 -veined. Lemma surface pilose; hairy below. Lemma apex acute. Palea 12 mm long; 2 -veined. Palea surface puberulous. Palea apex truncate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 3; ciliate. Stigmas 2.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; oblong; apex unappendaged.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: western Indian ocean.

NOTES Arundinarieae. Camus 1996.

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