Chusquea wilkesii

HABIT Perennial. Culms scandent; woody. Culm-internodes terete; 17 cm long; distally hirsute. Lateral branches dendroid. Branch complement several (6–8); in a clump; thinner than stem. Leaf-sheaths hirsute. Leaf-sheath oral hairs setose. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Collar with external ligule. Leaf-blade base with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 7–10 cm long; 8–12 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation indistinct; with 8 secondary veins. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially; pilose; hairy abaxially. Leaf-blade margins scabrous. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; lanceolate; 5–8 cm long. Primary panicle branches reflexed. Panicle axis hispid.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 6 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes both absent or obscure.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea; attached to and deciduous with the fertile. Lemma of lower sterile floret ovate; 3 mm long; 0.5 length of fertile lemma; chartaceous; 1-keeled; ciliate on margins; acute; mucronate. Lemma of upper sterile floret ovate; 3 mm long; chartaceous; ciliate on margins; acute; mucronate. Fertile lemma ovate; 6 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 7 -veined. Lemma lateral veins prominent. Lemma surface pubescent; hairy between veins. Lemma apex acute; mucronate. Palea surface pubescent; hairy on back.

FLOWER Lodicules 3; membranous. Anthers 3. Stigmas 2.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; apex unappendaged.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil.

NOTES Bambuseae. Munro 2001.

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