Chusquea ciliata

HABIT Perennial. Culms woody. Culm-internodes terete. Lateral branches dendroid. Branch complement many; in a clump; with subequal branches; thinner than stem. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 0.2 mm long. Collar with external ligule. Leaf-blade base with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 4–10 cm long; 5–8 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation without cross veins. Leaf-blade apex attenuate; filiform.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted, or spiciform; linear; interrupted; 5–14 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; 6–8 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 2–3 mm long; membranous; without keels. Lower glume apex attenuate. Upper glume lanceolate; 3–4 mm long; 0.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels. Upper glume apex attenuate; awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 0.5 mm long.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea; attached to and deciduous with the fertile. Lemma of lower sterile floret lanceolate; 3–4 mm long; 0.5 length of fertile lemma; chartaceous; 3–5 -veined; acute; awned. Awn of lower sterile floret 0.5 mm long. Lemma of upper sterile floret lanceolate; 4–5 mm long; chartaceous; acute; awned. Awn of upper sterile floret 1–1.5 mm long. Fertile lemma ovate; 6–8 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 7 -veined. Lemma surface puberulous; hairy above. Lemma apex acute.

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

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; apex unappendaged.

DISTRIBUTION South America: southern South America.

NOTES Bambuseae. WDC 2001.

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