Chusquea spicata

HABIT Perennial. Culms erect; 30–45 cm long; 1–5 mm diam.; woody; without nodal roots. Culm-internodes terete; solid; 1.5–4 cm long; smooth. Lateral branches dendroid; intravaginal. Branch complement several; in a horizontal line. Culm-sheaths 3–5 cm long. Culm-sheath blade triangular; cordate; 5–11.5 cm long; glabrous on surface; acuminate. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5 mm long; truncate. Collar with external ligule. Leaf-blade base truncate, or broadly rounded; with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath; petiole 0.01 cm long. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 3–6 cm long; 3–5 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; interrupted; dense; 3–14 cm long. Primary panicle branches appressed.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; 3–4 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes both absent or obscure.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea; attached to and deciduous with the fertile. Lemma of lower sterile floret ovate; 0.5 length of fertile lemma; chartaceous; pubescent; acuminate. Lemma of upper sterile floret ovate; chartaceous; pubescent; acuminate. Fertile lemma ovate; 3–4 mm long; coriaceous; without keel. Lemma apex apiculate; pubescent.

DISTRIBUTION South America: western South America.

NOTES Bambuseae. Gram Boliv 2010.

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