Merostachys kunthii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short; pachymorph. Culms erect; 600–900 cm long; woody. Culm-internodes terete; hollow; distally glabrous. Lateral branches dendroid. Branch complement many; flabellate. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Leaf-sheath oral hairs lacking. Leaf-sheath auricles erect; 1–2 mm long. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 1–2 mm long. Leaf-blade base with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath. Leaf-blades lanceolate, or ovate; 10–20 cm long; 10–40 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation with 12–16 secondary veins; without cross veins. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade margins scabrous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes; embraced at base by subtending leaf.

Racemes 1; single; unilateral; 10–12 cm long. Rhachis angular; terminating in a sterile spikelet. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; contiguous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

STERILE SPIKELETS Apical sterile spikelets rudimentary.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 14–16 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; reaching apex of florets. Lower glume lanceolate; 3 mm long. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 14–16 mm long; membranous. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 14–16 mm long; chartaceous; without keel. Lemma apex acute.

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

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil.

NOTES Bambuseae. Munro 2001.

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