Chusquea latifolia L.G.Clark

Bernal, R., G. Galeano, A. Rodríguez, H. Sarmiento y M. Gutiérrez. 2017. Nombres Comunes de las Plantas de Colombia. http://www.biovirtual.unal.edu.co/nombrescomunes/

Vernacular

bejuco de canasto, chusco

Distribution

Biogeografic region: Andean. Elevation range: 950–2700 m a.s.l. Endemic to Colombia. Colombian departments: Antioquia, Chocó, Cundinamarca, Quindío, Risaralda, Tolima, Valle del Cauca.

Habit

Liana, Climbing.

Conservation

National Red List of Colombia (2021): LC.

Morphology General Habit

Perennial. Rhizomes elongated; leptomorph. Culms scandent; 2000-4000 cm long; 7-15 mm diam.; woody; without nodal roots. Culm-internodes terete; solid; 25-39 cm long; smooth, or scaberulous; distally glabrous, or pubescent. Lateral branches dendroid; infravaginal. Bud complement 3. Branch complement two, or three; in a clump; with subequal branches; thinner than stem. Culm-sheaths deciduous but leaving a persistent girdle; 15.2-16.5 cm long; 1.8-3 times as long as wide; antrorsely scabrous; glabrous, or pubescent. Culm-sheath ligule ciliolate. Culm-sheath blade triangular; deciduous; 1.1-3.5 cm long; pubescent and with ciliate margins; acuminate. Leaves 5-9 per branch. Leaf-sheaths keeled; glabrous on surface, or pubescent; outer margin glabrous. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2-15 mm long; scarious; pubescent on abaxial surface; truncate, or obtuse. Collar with external ligule. Leaf-blade base broadly rounded; with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath; petiole 0.3-0.9 cm long. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 13.3-32.1 cm long; 30-85 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation with obscure cross veins. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade margins cartilaginous; serrulate. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence a panicle. Panicle contracted; linear; secund; 20.5-42.5 cm long. Primary panicle branches appressed; 3-9 cm long. Panicle axis glabrous. Panicle branches angular; glabrous. Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

Spikelets comprising 2 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate, or ovate; laterally compressed; 8.2-12 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

Fertile

Spikelets comprising 2 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate, or ovate; laterally compressed; 8.2-12 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume

Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.5-1.3 mm long; 0.2-0.5 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 0 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume ovate; 2.4-2.5 mm long; 0.25-0.33 length of adjacent fertile lemma; without keels; 3-5 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Florets

Basal sterile florets similar; barren; without significant palea; attached to and deciduous with the fertile. Lemma of lower sterile floret ovate; 3.2-4.2 mm long; chartaceous; 7-9 -veined; acuminate. Lemma of upper sterile floret ovate; 4.4-6.5 mm long; chartaceous; acuminate. Fertile lemma ovate; 8-10.6 mm long; coriaceous; shiny; without keel; 9-11 -veined. Lemma apex acuminate. Palea 9.3-9.6 mm long; 6-8 -veined. Palea keels contiguous above a sulcus. Palea apex acute.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Lodicules 3; 2.5-2.7 mm long; membranous; ciliate. Anthers 3; 4.5-5.2 mm long. Stigmas 2. Ovary glabrous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; apex unappendaged.

Distribution

South America: western South America.

Reference

Bambuseae. Clark 1995.

Diagnostic

Central branch bud triangular.