Leersia monandra

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes absent. Culms erect; 40–120 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous, or hispid. Culm-nodes glabrous, or pubescent. Lateral branches lacking. Leaves mostly basal. Leaf-sheaths smooth, or retrorsely scabrous. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2 mm long. Leaf-blades flat, or involute; 15–30 cm long; 3–6 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface smooth, or scaberulous. Leaf-blade margins smooth, or scaberulous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 5–15 cm long; contracted about secondary branches. Primary panicle branches ascending, or spreading; 4–6 -nate. Panicle branches bearing congested spikelets.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; compressed strongly; obtuse to acute; 1.5–2 mm long; 1–1.3 mm wide; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes both absent or obscure.

FLORETS Fertile lemma 1.5–2 mm long; chartaceous; keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma surface glabrous. Lemma margins involute. Palea 1 length of lemma; chartaceous; 3 -veined; 1-keeled.

FLOWER Lodicules 2. Anthers 1–2; 1 mm long. Stigmas 2.

FRUIT Caryopsis 1.5 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION North America: southeast USA and Mexico. South America: Caribbean.

NOTES Oryzeae. Pyrah.

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