Leersia nematostachya

HABIT Annual. Culms geniculately ascending, or decumbent; 30–70 cm long; 3–4 -noded; rooting from lower nodes. Leaf-sheath auricles erect. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 3–7.5 mm long. Leaf-blades filiform; flat, or conduplicate, or involute; 10–30 cm long; 2–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface smooth, or scaberulous. Leaf-blade apex attenuate; filiform.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; linear; 3–10 cm long. Primary panicle branches appressed; simple; 2–5 cm long; bearing 2–6 fertile spikelets on each lower branch.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 1 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; compressed strongly; 5–8 mm long; 1–1.3 mm wide; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes both absent or obscure.

FLORETS Fertile lemma 5–8 mm long; chartaceous; mid-green, or purple; keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma midvein ciliate; hairy above. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 11–18 mm long overall; limb scaberulous. Palea elliptic; 1 length of lemma; chartaceous; 3 -veined; 1-keeled. Palea keels ciliate; adorned above. Palea apex entire; acute.

FLOWER Lodicules 2. Anthers 6. Stigmas 2.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: west-central tropical and southern tropical.

NOTES Oryzeae. FZ.

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