Chusquea longispiculata

HABIT Perennial. Culms scandent; (300–)500–1000(–1500) cm long; 5–20 mm diam.; woody. Culm-internodes terete; 13–24 cm long; distally glabrous. Culm-nodes without obvious supra-nodal ridge. Lateral branches dendroid; infravaginal; ascending (but reflexed at base). Bud complement 12–15. Branch complement many. Culm-sheaths 7.7–14.3 cm long. Culm-sheath ligule 0.5–1.5 mm high. Culm-sheath blade triangular; indistinctly demarcated from sheath; erect; 3–5.2 cm long; attenuate. Leaves (4–)5–7(–8) per branch. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface; outer margin glabrous. Ligule an eciliate membrane, or a ciliolate membrane; 0.5–1 mm long. Collar with external ligule. Leaf-blade base with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath; petiole 0.2–0.25 cm long; petiole glabrous. Leaf-blades lanceolate; (6–)7.7–14 cm long; 7–12 mm wide. Leaf-blade midrib evident. Leaf-blade venation with obscure cross veins. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade margins scabrous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; without bracts, or bracteate at branch bases; subtended by an inflated leaf-sheath; embraced at base by subtending leaf.

Panicle open; pyramidal; 4–7 cm long. Primary panicle branches ascending, or spreading, or reflexed; 3–3.5 cm long. Panicle branches angular; with prominent pulvini.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 2–7 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; dorsally compressed; compressed slightly; (13.5–)14.5–19.2 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume orbicular; 0.2–0.3 mm long; 0.5 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume orbicular; 0.4–0.5 mm long; without keels.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets similar; barren; without significant palea; attached to and deciduous with the fertile. Lemma of lower sterile floret lanceolate; (7.5–)10.8–13.9 mm long; chartaceous; 3–5 -veined; setaceously attenuate. Lemma of upper sterile floret lanceolate; (10.8–)15.3–17.7 mm long; chartaceous; setaceously attenuate. Fertile lemma lanceolate; (11–)12.4–15.4 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 7–9 -veined. Lemma surface glabrous. Lemma apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 2.2 mm long overall. Palea 11–16.2 mm long; 4–8 -veined. Palea surface glabrous.

FLOWER Lodicules 3; 1.6–2.5 mm long; ciliate. Anthers 3; 6.8–8.1 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil.

NOTES Bambuseae. Clark 2014.

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