Melocanna baccifera

HABIT Perennial; culms solitary. Rhizomes elongated; pachymorph. Culms erect; 1000–2000 cm long; 50–90 mm diam.; woody. Culm-internodes terete; hollow; 30–60 cm long. Lateral branches dendroid. Branch complement many; with subequal branches. Culm-sheaths persistent; coriaceous; pubescent; hairy throughout; with yellow hairs; without auricles. Culm-sheath blade linear; reflexed. Leaves cauline; 5–15 per branch. Leaf-sheath oral hairs lacking. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blade base with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 18–42 cm long; 20–90 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation with distinct cross veins. Leaf-blade margins scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Synflorescence bractiferous; clustered at the nodes (of raceme-like secondary branches); in oblong clusters; 1–1.5 cm long; dense; with spathaceous subtending bracts; bracts 1–1.5 mm long; with axillary buds at base of spikelet; prophyllate below lateral spikelets; leafless between clusters.

Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 5–6 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 15 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Upper glume lanceolate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 5–7 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 5–9 -veined. Lemma apex rostrate; mucronate. Palea without keels. Rhachilla extension 0.1–0.2 length of fertile floret.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; veined; ciliate. Anthers 5–7. Stigmas 2–4. Ovary with a steeple-like appendage; glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with fleshy pericarp; ovoid; isodiametric; 75–125 mm long. Endosperm farinose (small).

CLEISTOGENES AND VIVIPARY Vivipary occurs.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: India and Indo-China.

NOTES Bambuseae. Lin.

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