Cephalostachyum perrieri

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short; pachymorph. Culms scandent; woody. Culm-internodes terete; hollow. Lateral branches dendroid. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface; outer margin hairy. Leaf-sheath oral hairs setose. Leaf-sheath auricles erect. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blade base with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 5–8 cm long; 10–14 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation with 6–8 secondary veins; with distinct cross veins. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade margins scabrous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Synflorescence bractiferous; globose; 10–12 cm long; dense; with spathaceous subtending bracts; with axillary buds at base of spikelet; prophyllate below lateral spikelets.

Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 11 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes two; persistent; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 9–11 -veined. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume ovate; chartaceous; without keels; 9–11 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 9 mm long; chartaceous; shiny; without keel; 9–11 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent; hairy above. Lemma apex acuminate. Palea tightly convolute around flower; 10 mm long; chartaceous. Palea keels approximate. Palea surface pubescent; hairy on back; hairy all along. Palea apex truncate.

FLOWER Lodicules 3; ciliate. Anthers 6. Ovary with a steeple-like appendage.

FRUIT Caryopsis with free brittle pericarp; obovoid; 6 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: western Indian ocean.

NOTES Bambuseae. Camus 2002.

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