Leersia

HABIT Annual (5), or perennial (15). Rhizomes absent (11/17), or short (1/17), or elongated (8/17). Culms erect (3/17), or geniculately ascending (10/17), or decumbent (12/17), or prostrate (1/17); 15–69.58–200 cm long; spongy (1), or firm (17); without nodal roots (2/7), or rooting from lower nodes (7/7). Culm-nodes constricted (1/1). Lateral branches lacking (3/3), or sparse (1/3). Leaf-sheath auricles absent (14), or erect (4). Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades filiform (1), or linear (17), or lanceolate (1); stiff (1), or firm (14), or flaccid (3).

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; exserted (16), or embraced at base by subtending leaf (4), or enclosed (1).

Panicle open (17), or contracted (1).

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile (1), or pedicelled (17). Pedicels oblong (3/3).

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets linear (1), or lanceolate (1), or elliptic (6), or oblong (9), or ovate (3), or orbicular (1); laterally compressed; 1.5–3.931–8 mm long; falling entire. Spikelet callus brief (16), or oblong (2); base obtuse (1/1).

GLUMES Glumes both absent or obscure.

FLORETS Fertile lemma linear (1/2), or elliptic (1/2), or oblong (1/2); chartaceous; keeled; wingless; 5 -veined. Lemma midvein without distinctive roughness (16), or scaberulous (1), or scabrous (1); eciliate (5), or ciliolate (5), or ciliate (5), or pectinately ciliate (4), or setose (1). Lemma surface smooth (15), or scaberulous (2), or scabrous (2); unwrinkled; without grooves; glabrous (15), or puberulous (1), or pubescent (5), or hispidulous (2); with simple hairs (6/8), or semicircular hairs (2/8). Lemma margins involute; eciliate (17), or ciliolate (1), or ciliate (2). Lemma apex obtuse (2/12), or acute (8/12), or rostrate (2/12); muticous (14), or awned (4); 1 -awned (4/4). Palea 1–1.005–1.1 length of lemma; chartaceous; 3 -veined; 1-keeled. Palea keels smooth (15), or scaberulous (2), or scabrous (1); eciliate (7), or ciliolate (4), or ciliate (6), or pectinate (2). Palea surface glabrous (16), or pubescent (3). Palea apex entire (12/12); muticous (15), or awned (3).

FLOWER Lodicules 2. Anthers 1 (1), or 2 (4), or 3 (3), or 6 (11). Stigmas 2.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp (2/2); ellipsoid (1/2), or ovoid (1/2). Embryo 0.4 length of caryopsis.

DISTRIBUTION Europe (1), or Africa (11), or Temperate Asia (4), or Tropical Asia (3), or Australasia (2), or North America (6), or South America (4).

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