Indosasa shibataeaoides

HABIT Perennial. Culms erect; 150–200 cm long; woody. Culm-internodes terete; with small lumen; distally glabrous. Culm-nodes swollen. Lateral branches dendroid. Branch complement three; with 1 branch dominant; thinner than stem. Leaves 1–2 per branch. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Leaf-sheath oral hairs lacking. Leaf-sheath auricles absent. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blade base with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 5–10 cm long; 10–18 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Synflorescence bractiferous; paniculate; with glumaceous subtending bracts; with axillary buds at base of spikelet; prophyllate below lateral spikelets.

Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 6–10 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets linear; laterally compressed; 40–60 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes pubescent; hairy at tip.

GLUMES Glumes several; 5–6 empty glumes; persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Upper glume ovate; 5–10 mm long.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 13.5 mm long; chartaceous; without keel. Lemma lateral veins with cross-veins. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea keels ciliolate; adorned above. Palea apex obtuse. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 3; glabrous. Anthers 6. Stigmas 3. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China.

NOTES Arundinarieae. McClure 1996.

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