Leersia friesii

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes elongated. Culms geniculately ascending, or decumbent; 60–80 cm long; spongy; 3–6(–8) -noded. Culm-nodes glabrous. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2–2.5 mm long; truncate. Leaf-blades flat, or involute; 8–20 cm long; 3–6 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; rough adaxially; glabrous, or pilose; hairy abaxially. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; linear; 8–14 cm long; 0.5–1 cm wide. Primary panicle branches appressed; 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; 3–3.5 mm long; 0.9–1(–1.2) mm wide; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes both absent or obscure.

FLORETS Fertile lemma 3–3.5 mm long; chartaceous; yellow, or mid-green; keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma midvein scabrous. Lemma surface glabrous, or hispidulous. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex rostrate (point up to 1mm). Palea elliptic; 1 length of lemma; chartaceous; 3 -veined; 1-keeled. Palea keels scabrous. Palea surface glabrous, or pubescent. Palea apex entire.

FLOWER Lodicules 2. Anthers 6; 2–3 mm long. Stigmas 2.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: west-central tropical, east tropical, southern tropical, and south.

NOTES Oryzeae. FZ.

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