Merostachys leptophylla

Description

Perennial;caespitose.Rhizomes short;pachymorph.Culms 900–1200 cm long;12–15 mm diam.;woody.Culm-internodes terete;hollow;grey;smooth.Culm-nodes flush with internodes;pallid;glabrous.Lateral branches dendroid.Branch complement many (50–65);flabellate.Culm-sheaths deciduous;12–13 cm long;4 times as long as wide;smooth;setose on shoulders;shoulders with curved hairs;shoulders with 6–8 mm long hairs.Culm-sheath ligule 0.5 mm high.Culm-sheath blade lanceolate;deciduous;reflexed;8.5–13 cm long;7–8 mm wide;glabrous on surface,or pubescent.Leaves 5–11 per branch.Leaf-sheaths tight;glabrous on surface.Leaf-sheath oral hairs setose;curly.Ligule a ciliolate membrane;0.5 mm long.Collar with external ligule.Leaf-blade base asymmetrical;with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath;petiole 0.15 cm long;petiole glabrous.Leaf-blades linear,or lanceolate;6.5–10 cm long;4–8 mm wide;grey-green.Leaf-blade margins scabrous.Leaf-blade apex acuminate.