Leptocarydion

HABIT Annual. Culms 10–120 cm long. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blades lanceolate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes borne along a central axis; in a multilateral false spike; appressed; unilateral. Rhachis angular. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; crowded.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile, or pedicelled. Pedicels filiform.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 6–14 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 5–11 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes definite. Floret callus evident; pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 0.6–0.8 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface without pits. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 1.1–1.2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume apex obtuse, or acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; membranous; keeled; wingless; 3 -veined. Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves; pubescent. Lemma margins ciliate. Lemma apex entire, or dentate; 2–4 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn apical, or from a sinus. Palea 0.7 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea surface pubescent. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; fleshy. Anthers 2. Stigmas 2.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; linear; isodiametric; trigonous. Embryo 0.3 length of caryopsis. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Africa, or Temperate Asia.

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