Leersia oryzoides

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes elongated. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 30–120 cm long. Culm-nodes pubescent. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5–1.5 mm long; truncate. Leaf-blades 8–30 cm long; 5–10 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous. Leaf-blade margins scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; exserted, or embraced at base by subtending leaf, or enclosed.

Panicle open; elliptic, or oblong; 10–22 cm long; 5–14 cm wide. Primary panicle branches 2 -nate. Panicle branches capillary; flexuous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels oblong; 0.3–1 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; compressed strongly; 4–5 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes both absent or obscure.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 4–5 mm long; chartaceous; keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma midvein pectinately ciliate. Lemma surface smooth, or scaberulous. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute. Palea elliptic; 1 length of lemma; chartaceous; 3 -veined; 1-keeled. Palea keels eciliate. Palea apex entire.

FLOWER Lodicules 2. Anthers 3; 1.5–2 mm long (0.4–0.7 when cleistogamous); eventually exserted, or retained within floret. Stigmas 2.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid. Embryo 0.4 length of caryopsis.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: northern, central, southwestern, southeastern, and eastern. Africa: Macaronesia. Asia-temperate: Siberia, Soviet far east, Soviet Middle Asia, Caucasus, western Asia, China, and eastern Asia. Asia-tropical: India. Australasia: Australia and New Zealand. North America: western Canada, eastern Canada, northwest USA, north-central USA, northeast USA, southwest USA, south-central USA, southeast USA, and Mexico.

NOTES Oryzeae. CEH.

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