Ferrocalamus

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes elongated; leptomorph. Culms erect; 500–650–900 cm long; woody; with aerial roots from the nodes (1/1). Culm-internodes terete. Culm-nodes swollen. Lateral branches suffrutescent. Branch complement as thick as stem (1/1). Culm-sheaths persistent (1/1), or tardily deciduous (1/1); without auricles. Culm-sheath blade linear (1), or lanceolate (1). Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blade base with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath (1), or with a false petiole (1). Leaf-blades lanceolate (1), or oblong (1). Leaf-blade venation without cross veins (1), or with distinct cross veins (1).

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle (1/1).

Panicle open (1/1).

Spikelets solitary (1/1). Fertile spikelets pedicelled (1/1).

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–10 fertile florets (1/1); with diminished florets at the apex (1/1). Spikelets oblong (1/1); subterete (1/1); 14–16–18 mm long; breaking up at maturity (1/1); disarticulating below each fertile floret (1/1). Rhachilla internodes definite (1/1).

GLUMES Glumes persistent (1/1); shorter than spikelet (1/1). Lower glume lanceolate (1/1); chartaceous (1/1); without keels (1/1); 1 -veined (1/1). Lower glume lateral veins absent (1/1). Lower glume surface without pits (1/1); puberulous (1/1). Lower glume apex acuminate (1/1). Upper glume lanceolate (1/1); chartaceous (1/1); without keels (1/1); 3–5 -veined (1/1). Upper glume surface puberulous (1/1). Upper glume apex acuminate (1/1).

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate (1/1); chartaceous (1/1); without keel (1/1); wingless (1/1); 7 -veined (1/1). Lemma surface unwrinkled (1/1); without grooves (1/1); puberulous (1/1). Lemma apex obtuse (1/1). Palea surface puberulous (1/1). Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped (1/1).

FLOWER Lodicules 3 (1/1). Anthers 3 (1/1). Stigmas 2 (1/1).

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp (1/1).

DISTRIBUTION Temperate Asia.

Please cite this publication as detailed in How to Cite Version: 16th November 2012.