Aulonemia david-smithii

HABIT Perennial. Culms 200 cm long; 2–5 mm diam.; woody. Lateral branches suffrutescent. Leaf-sheaths keeled; outer margin hairy. Leaf-sheath oral hairs setose; 10–15 mm long. Leaf-sheath auricles absent. Ligule absent. Collar with external ligule. Leaf-blade base symmetrical; with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath; petiole 0.2–0.4 cm long. Leaf-blades linear, or lanceolate; 25–38 cm long; 27–38 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation with distinct cross veins. Leaf-blade margins cartilaginous; scabrous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 20–25 cm long; 15–20 cm wide. Primary panicle branches ascending. Panicle branches angular; smooth.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–6 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets linear; subterete; 15–25 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes two; 2 empty glumes; persistent; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume linear, or lanceolate; 1–2 mm long. Upper glume linear, or lanceolate; 2–3 mm long.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 3.5–6 mm long. Lemma apex acute; pungent. Palea 1.8–3 mm long. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil.

NOTES Bambuseae. Judz. & Waas 2014.

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