Pseudoxytenanthera bourdillonii

HABIT Perennial; pluricaespitose. Rhizomes short; pachymorph. Culms woody. Culm-internodes terete; with small lumen. Lateral branches dendroid. Culm-sheaths 15–30 cm long; 2 times as long as wide; coriaceous; hispid; hairy at the base; with black hairs; auriculate. Culm-sheath ligule 5 mm high; dentate. Culm-sheath blade triangular; 5–7.5 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; erose. Collar with external ligule. Leaf-blade base asymmetrical; with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath; petiole 0.5 cm long. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 15–22.5 cm long; 25–35 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation with 14–16 secondary veins. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade margins scabrous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Synflorescence bractiferous; clustered at the nodes; in globose clusters; 4–5 cm long; dense; 4 cm between clusters; with glumaceous subtending bracts; with axillary buds at base of spikelet; prophyllate below lateral spikelets; leafless between clusters.

Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 17–20 mm long; 2–5 mm wide; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes two; similar; shorter than spikelet. Upper glume ovate; 5–10 mm long; chartaceous; without keels. Upper glume apex acuminate; mucronate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 15–18 mm long; chartaceous; without keel. Lemma apex acuminate; mucronate. Palea chartaceous; 5 -veined; 2-keeled but the uppermost without keels. Palea keels ciliate. Rhachilla extension pilose. Apical sterile florets 1 in number; barren; linear.

FLOWER Lodicules absent. Anthers 6; anther tip apiculate. Filaments united in a tube. Stigmas 3; pubescent. Ovary umbonate; pubescent on apex.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; oblong; 10 mm long; hairy at apex. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: India.

NOTES Bambuseae. Gamble 1996.

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