Yushania madagascariensis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short; pachymorph. Culms erect; 200–400 cm long; woody. Culm-internodes terete; hollow. Lateral branches dendroid. Leaf-sheaths striately veined; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blade base with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath. Leaf-blades linear, or lanceolate; 6 cm long; 3–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation with 24–28 secondary veins; with distinct cross veins. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; rough adaxially; pilose; hairy abaxially. Leaf-blade margins scaberulous. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–5 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets linear; laterally compressed; 32–35 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes clavate; pilose; hairy at tip.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 4.5 mm long; chartaceous; 5–7 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins with cross-veins. Lower glume surface glabrous. Lower glume margins ciliolate. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume ovate; 6.5 mm long; chartaceous; 11 -veined. Upper glume surface glabrous. Upper glume margins ciliolate. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 10 mm long; without keel; 9–11 -veined. Lemma lateral veins with cross-veins. Lemma surface glabrous. Lemma apex acuminate. Palea 9 mm long. Palea keels ciliolate; adorned above. Palea apex dentate; 2 -fid. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 3; membranous; ciliate. Anthers 3. Stigmas 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: western Indian ocean.

NOTES Arundinarieae. Camus 2002.

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