Chusquea yungasensis

HABIT Perennial. Culms scandent; 250–400 cm long; 6–12 mm diam.; woody. Culm-internodes terete; 26.7–43 cm long; distally glabrous. Culm-nodes with distinct supra-nodal ridge. Lateral branches dendroid; infravaginal. Branch complement many; in a clump; with 1 branch dominant; as thick as stem. Culm-sheaths persistent; 33.5–44.5 cm long; antrorsely scabrous; hairy on margins. Culm-sheath ligule 0.8–2 mm high. Culm-sheath blade triangular; indistinctly demarcated from sheath; erect; 5–11.1 cm long; pubescent. Leaves 4–6 per branch. Leaf-sheaths keeled (above); striately veined; glabrous on surface; outer margin glabrous. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 1–1.5 mm long. Collar with external ligule. Leaf-blade base symmetrical, or asymmetrical; with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath; petiole 0.4–0.5 cm long; petiole glabrous. Leaf-blades lanceolate, or oblong; (6.5–)9.5–14.5 cm long; (13–)19–24 mm wide; mid-green and light green; discolorous with last colour beneath. Leaf-blade venation without cross veins. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade margins scaberulous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

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

Panicle spiciform; oblong; 2.5–3 cm long; 1–2.5 cm wide. Primary panicle branches 0.3–0.4 cm long. Panicle axis angular. Panicle branches angular; pubescent.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; compressed slightly; 9–11 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 1.3–1.4 mm long; membranous; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex attenuate. Upper glume lanceolate; 4.5–6 mm long; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex attenuate.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea; attached to and deciduous with the fertile. Lemma of lower sterile floret elliptic; 5–5.5 mm long; 0.5 length of fertile lemma; chartaceous; 5 -veined. Lemma of upper sterile floret elliptic; 7 mm long; chartaceous; acute. Fertile lemma ovate; 9–10 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 7 -veined. Lemma surface scabrous. Lemma margins ciliate; hairy above. Lemma apex acute. Palea 9–10 mm long; 6 -veined.

FLOWER Lodicules 3; 2–5 mm long; ciliate. Anthers 3; 6 mm long. Ovary glabrous.

DISTRIBUTION South America: western South America.

NOTES Bambuseae. Clark & Mota 2014.

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