Schizostachyum curranii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short; pachymorph. Culms scandent; woody. Culm-internodes terete; hollow; antrorsely scabrous. Lateral branches dendroid. Leaf-sheaths striately veined; glabrous on surface. Ligule a ciliate membrane. Leaf-blade base cordate; with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath; petiole 0.3 cm long. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 12–20 cm long; 20–30 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation indistinct; with 14–16 secondary veins. Leaf-blade margins scabrous. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Synflorescence bractiferous; clustered at the nodes; in untidy tufts; with spathaceous subtending bracts; bracts 10–20 mm long; with axillary buds at base of spikelet; prophyllate below lateral spikelets; 70 cm long overall.

Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate, or oblong; laterally compressed; obtuse; 8 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes several; 2–3 empty glumes; persistent; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; chartaceous; without keels. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 5–6 mm long; chartaceous; without keels; 5–7 -veined. Upper glume apex acute; mucronate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 5 mm long; chartaceous; without keel. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex acute. Palea tightly convolute around flower; chartaceous; without keels.

FLOWER Lodicules 2 to 3; 1 mm long; ciliate. Anthers 6; 3 mm long; anther tip penicillate. Stigmas 3. Ovary with a steeple-like appendage; pubescent on apex.

FRUIT Caryopsis with free brittle pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: Malesia.

NOTES Bambuseae. Gamble 1996.

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