Merostachys fistulosa

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short; pachymorph. Culms woody. Culm-internodes terete; with small lumen; smooth. Lateral branches dendroid. Branch complement many; flabellate. Leaf-sheaths smooth; glabrous on surface. Leaf-sheath oral hairs lacking. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; obtuse. Collar with external ligule. Leaf-blade base with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath; petiole glabrous. Leaf-blades lanceolate, or ovate; 7–13 cm long; 16–20 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface smooth, or scaberulous; rough abaxially; glabrous. Leaf-blade margins scabrous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; arcuate; unilateral; 12–20 cm long. Rhachis pubescent on surface; terminating in a sterile spikelet. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; contiguous; regular.

Spikelets pectinate; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

STERILE SPIKELETS Apical sterile spikelets rudimentary.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; compressed slightly; 14–20 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; exceeding apex of florets. Lower glume lanceolate; 7–10 mm long; 0.5 length of upper glume; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume ovate; 14–20 mm long; chartaceous. Upper glume surface pubescent; hairy at base. Upper glume apex caudate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 14–20 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 5–7 -veined. Lemma surface scaberulous; pubescent. Lemma apex acuminate. Palea lanceolate; chartaceous. Palea keels contiguous above a sulcus; ciliolate. Rhachilla extension pilose. Apical sterile florets 1 in number; rudimentary.

FLOWER Lodicules 3; ciliate. Anthers 3. Stigmas 3.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil.

NOTES Bambuseae. Martius 2006.

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