Chimonocalamus griffithianus

Description

HABIT Perennial;caespitose.Rhizomes short;pachymorph.Culms erect;300–1000 cm long;25–35 mm diam.;woody;with root thorns from the nodes.Culm-internodes terete;18–25 cm long;dark green.Culm-nodes pubescent.Lateral branches dendroid.Branch complement several;in an irregular line;with subequal branches.Culm-sheaths 15–25 cm long;1.5–1.8 times as long as wide;chartaceous;pubescent;hairy throughout and at the base;with tawny hairs;hairy on margins;convex at apex;auriculate.Culm-sheath ligule fimbriate.Culm-sheath blade triangular;0.5–2.5 cm long;pubescent;acute.Leaf-sheaths striately veined;smooth;glabrous on surface;outer margin hairy.Leaf-sheath oral hairs setose.Ligule an eciliate membrane;pubescent on abaxial surface.Leaf-blade base with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath;petiole 0.5 cm long.Leaf-blades deciduous at the ligule;linear,or lanceolate;10–13 cm long;8–12 mm wide.Leaf-blade midrib prominent beneath.Leaf-blade venation with 8–10 secondary veins;with distinct cross veins.Leaf-blade surface smooth;glabrous.Leaf-blade margins smooth.Leaf-blade apex acuminate;filiform.INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.Panicle open;ovate.Panicle axis pubescent.Spikelets solitary.Fertile spikelets pedicelled.FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 7–8 fertile florets;with diminished florets at the apex.Spikelets linear;laterally compressed;25–35 mm long;breaking up at maturity;disarticulating below each fertile floret.Rhachilla internodes flattened;clavate;5–7 mm long;eventually visible between lemmas;pilose;hairy at tip.GLUMES Glumes persistent;similar;shorter than spikelet;similar to fertile lemma in texture.Lower glume lanceolate,or ovate;5 mm long;chartaceous;1-keeled;5–9 -veined.Lower glume primary vein ciliate.Lower glume surface scabrous;puberulous.Lower glume apex acute;mucronate.Upper glume lanceolate,or ovate;7 mm long;chartaceous;without keels;5–7 -veined.Upper glume surface scabrous;puberulous.Upper glume apex acuminate;mucronate.FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate;12 mm long;chartaceous;without keel;7 -veined.Lemma surface pubescent;hairy above.Lemma apex setaceously attenuate.Palea 1 length of lemma.Palea keels ciliolate.Palea apex dentate;1 -fid;with excurrent keel veins.Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.FLOWER Lodicules 3;membranous;veined;ciliate.Anthers 3;anther tip penicillate.Stigmas 3.Ovary glabrous.FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.