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GrassBase - The Online World Grass Flora
Descriptions
W.D. Clayton, M. Vorontsova, K.T. Harman & H. Williamson
© Copyright The Board of Trustees, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Thamnocalamus
HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes short (3), or elongated (1); pachymorph. Culms erect; 100–400–700 cm long; woody; without nodal roots (1/1). Culm-internodes terete. Culm-nodes swollen (1/1). Lateral branches dendroid. Branch complement one (1), or two (1), or three (1), or several (3), or many (1); in a horizontal line (3/3); with subequal branches (2/2); thinner than stem (2/2). Culm-sheaths persistent (1/3), or deciduous (2/3); without auricles. Culm-sheath blade lanceolate (1/3), or triangular (2/3). Ligule an eciliate membrane (1), or a ciliolate membrane (3). Leaf-blade base with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath. Leaf-blades linear (2), or lanceolate (3); herbaceous (3), or chartaceous (1). Leaf-blade venation with distinct cross veins. Leaf-blade margins cartilaginous (1/1).
INFLORESCENCE Synflorescence bractiferous (3/3); fasciculate (3/3); with spathaceous subtending bracts (3/3); without axillary buds at base of spikelet (3/3).
Fertile spikelets sessile (2/3), or pedicelled (1/3).
FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets (1/3), or 3–4 fertile florets (1/3), or 5 fertile florets (2/3), or 6 fertile florets (1/3); with diminished florets at the apex (3/3). Spikelets oblong (2/3), or ovate (1/3); laterally compressed (3/3); 15.4–26.63–40 mm long; breaking up at maturity (3/3); disarticulating below each fertile floret (3/3). Rhachilla internodes definite (3/3).
GLUMES Glumes persistent (3/3); shorter than spikelet (3/3). Lower glume lanceolate (3/3); 0.75–0.8833–1 length of upper glume; chartaceous (3/3); without keels (3/3); 5 -veined (1/3), or 9 -veined (2/3). Lower glume surface without pits (3/3). Lower glume apex acute (1/3), or acuminate (2/3). Upper glume lanceolate (3/3); 0.7–1.1–1.6 length of adjacent fertile lemma; chartaceous (3/3); without keels (3/3); 7 -veined (1/3), or 9 -veined (2/3), or 10–13 -veined (1/3). Upper glume lateral veins with cross-veins (1/1). Upper glume apex acute (1/3), or acuminate (2/3).
FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate (2/3), or oblong (1/3); chartaceous (3/3); without keel (3/3); wingless (3/3); 5–11 -veined (1/3), or 13–15 -veined (1/3). Lemma surface smooth (2/3), or asperulous (1/3); unwrinkled (3/3); without grooves (3/3). Lemma margins eciliate (2/3), or ciliolate (1/3). Lemma apex acute (1/3), or attenuate (2/3); muticous (2/3), or awned (1/3); 1 -awned (1/1). Palea 4 -veined (1/3), or 8 -veined (1/3), or 11 -veined (1/3). Palea keels smooth (2/3), or scabrous (1/3); eciliate (1/3), or ciliolate (2/3). Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped (3/3).
FLOWER Lodicules 3 (3/3); scarious (1/1); glabrous (1/3), or ciliate (2/3). Anthers 3 (2/2). Stigmas 3 (3/3).
FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp (3/3); linear (1/1), or oblong (1/1).
DISTRIBUTION Africa (1), or Temperate Asia (2), or Tropical Asia (2).
Please cite this publication as detailed in How to Cite Version: 16th November 2012.
