Chusquea acuminatissima

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short; pachymorph. Culms erect; reed-like; 100–200 cm long; woody. Culm-internodes terete; solid. Lateral branches lacking. Ligule a ciliate membrane. Leaf-blades aciculate; 60–100 cm long; 7–24 mm wide; coriaceous; stiff.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; 30–45 cm long; 1.5–3 cm wide; contracted about primary branches. Primary panicle branches appressed, or ascending; 1–5 cm long; bearing spikelets almost to the base.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 1–2 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; 4–5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 3.5–4 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Lower glume awn 5–8 mm long. Upper glume ovate; 3.5–4 mm long; 0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 3–6 mm long.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets similar; barren; without significant palea; attached to and deciduous with the fertile. Lemma of lower sterile floret ovate; 2.5–3 mm long; 0.75 length of spikelet; membranous; acuminate. Lemma of upper sterile floret ovate; 2.5–3 mm long; acuminate. Fertile lemma elliptic; 4–5 mm long; coriaceous; without keel. Lemma apex acute. Palea 1 length of lemma; coriaceous; without keels.

FLOWER Lodicules 3; veinless; ciliate.

DISTRIBUTION South America: western South America.

NOTES Bambuseae. Munro 2011.

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