Leersia hexandra

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes elongated. Culms geniculately ascending, or decumbent; 30–100 cm long. Culm-nodes pubescent. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1–2 mm long; truncate. Leaf-blades 10–20 cm long; 4–8 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous. Leaf-blade margins scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; elliptic, or oblong; 5–12 cm long; 1–4 cm wide. Primary panicle branches 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; (3.2–)3.4–4.8(–5.2) mm long; (1–)1.2–1.4(–1.7) mm wide; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes both absent or obscure.

FLORETS Fertile lemma (3.2–)3.4–4.8(–5.2) mm long; chartaceous; pallid, or purple; keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma midvein pectinately ciliate. Lemma surface scabrous. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute. Palea elliptic; 1 length of lemma; chartaceous; 3 -veined; 1-keeled. Palea keels pectinate. Palea apex entire.

FLOWER Lodicules 2. Anthers 6. Stigmas 2.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: north, Macaronesia, west tropical, west-central tropical, northeast tropical, east tropical, southern tropical, south, and western Indian ocean. Asia-temperate: western Asia, China, and eastern Asia. Asia-tropical: India, Indo-China, Malesia, and Papuasia. Australasia: Australia. North America: south-central USA, southeast USA, and Mexico. South America: Mesoamericana, Caribbean, northern South America, western South America, Brazil, and southern South America.

NOTES Oryzeae. FTEA.

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