Davidsea

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes short; pachymorph. Culms arching; 800–900 cm long; woody. Culm-internodes terete. Lateral branches dendroid. Branch complement several; in a clump; with 1 branch dominant. Culm-sheaths deciduous but leaving a persistent girdle. Culm-sheath blade linear, or lanceolate. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blade base with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath. Leaf-blades deciduous at the ligule; lanceolate.

INFLORESCENCE Synflorescence bractiferous; clustered at the nodes; in untidy tufts; with glumaceous subtending bracts; with axillary buds at base of spikelet; leafless between clusters.

Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1–3 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 15–20 mm long; falling entire. Rhachilla internodes definite.

GLUMES Glumes several; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; chartaceous; without keels; 13 -veined. Lower glume surface without pits. Lower glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; chartaceous; without keel; wingless; 15 -veined. Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves. Lemma apex acute. Palea chartaceous; 5 -veined. Palea keels ciliate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

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

DISTRIBUTION Tropical Asia.

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