Leersia denudata

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms geniculately ascending, or decumbent; 40–70 cm long; rooting from lower nodes. Culm-nodes pubescent. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1–2 mm long; truncate. Leaf-blades flat, or conduplicate; 3–14 cm long; 1.5–6 mm wide; flaccid. Leaf-blade surface smooth; glabrous. Leaf-blade apex acute, or acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; elliptic, or oblong; 5–15 cm long; 1.5–5 cm wide. Primary panicle branches ascending, or spreading; bearing spikelets almost to the base.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; compressed strongly; 3.5–4.5(–5.5) mm long; 1.3–1.6 mm wide; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes both absent or obscure.

FLORETS Fertile lemma 3.5–4.3(–5.5) mm long; chartaceous; mid-green, or red, or purple; keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma midvein ciliolate. Lemma surface glabrous. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex rostrate. Palea elliptic; 1 length of lemma; chartaceous; 3 -veined; 1-keeled. Palea keels ciliolate. Palea apex entire.

FLOWER Lodicules 2. Anthers 6. Stigmas 2.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: east tropical, southern tropical, and south.

NOTES Oryzeae. FZ.

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