Chusquea robusta

HABIT Perennial. Culms 700–1200 cm long; 30–70 mm diam.; woody. Culm-internodes terete; 22–32 cm long; distally glabrous. Culm-nodes with distinct supra-nodal ridge. Lateral branches dendroid; intravaginal. Branch complement many; in a clump. Culm-sheaths persistent; 13.5–31 cm long; antrorsely scabrous; pubescent; hairy on margins. Culm-sheath ligule 2–3 mm high; entire, or ciliolate. Culm-sheath blade triangular; erect; 3–6 cm long; pubescent (above); acuminate. Leaves 2–6 per branch. Leaf-sheaths striately veined; outer margin hairy. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.7 mm long; brown; pubescent on abaxial surface. Collar with external ligule. Leaf-blade base asymmetrical; with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath; petiole 0.1–0.2 cm long. Leaf-blades linear; 8–21 cm long; 3–7 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially; pilose; hairy abaxially. Leaf-blade margins cartilaginous; serrulate. Leaf-blade apex attenuate; filiform; hairy.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; subtended by bracts (1.5–5mm).

Panicle open; lanceolate; 6–16 cm long. Panicle axis scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 2–10 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 12–15.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes brief up to lowest fertile floret, or elongated between glumes. Rhachilla elongation 0.1–2 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.5 mm long; membranous; purple; without keels. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume oblate; 1–1.5 mm long; membranous; dark brown, or purple; without keels. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea; attached to and deciduous with the fertile. Lemma of lower sterile floret ovate; 3–3.5 mm long; 0.3–0.4 length of fertile lemma; chartaceous; 7–9 -veined; scabrous; ciliate on margins; setaceously attenuate. Lemma of upper sterile floret ovate; 7–10 mm long; chartaceous; scabrous; ciliate on margins; setaceously attenuate. Fertile lemma ovate; 12–15 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 7–9 -veined. Lemma surface scabrous. Lemma apex setaceously attenuate. Palea 9–11 mm long; 7–9 -veined.

DISTRIBUTION South America: western South America.

NOTES Bambuseae. Clark 2006.

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