Oligostachyum paniculatum

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes elongated; leptomorph. Culms 200–300 cm long; 5–10 mm diam.; woody. Culm-internodes terete; 15–25 cm long; distally glabrous. Culm-nodes with distinct supra-nodal ridge. Lateral branches dendroid. Culm-sheaths tardily deciduous; glabrous; without auricles. Culm-sheath ligule 0.5–1 mm high; ciliolate. Leaves 2–3 per branch. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Leaf-sheath oral hairs lacking. Leaf-sheath auricles absent. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1–1.5 mm long; pubescent on abaxial surface; obtuse. Leaf-blade base with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 15 cm long; 10 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough abaxially; glabrous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate; apiculate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; bracteate at branch bases.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels ciliate.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets linear; laterally compressed; with hairs extending 115 mm beyond apex; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 6 mm long; pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes two, or several; 2–3 empty glumes; persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; chartaceous. Upper glume ovate; chartaceous.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 13 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 7–13 -veined. Lemma surface scabrous. Lemma apex acuminate; mucronate. Palea keels ciliate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 3; lanceolate; 2–2.5 mm long. Anthers 3; 4 mm long. Stigmas 3.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China.

NOTES Arundinarieae. Fl China 2006.

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