Leersia virginica

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes short; scaly. Culms decumbent; 50–120 cm long; without nodal roots, or rooting from lower nodes. Culm-nodes pubescent. Leaf-sheaths smooth, or scaberulous. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1–3 mm long; truncate. Leaf-blades 5–20 cm long; 6–15 mm wide; flaccid. Leaf-blade surface smooth, or scaberulous; rough on both sides; pilose; hairy abaxially. Leaf-blade margins glabrous, or ciliate.

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

Panicle open; ovate; 10–24 cm long; contracted about secondary branches. Primary panicle branches 4–8 in number; 1 -nate; 8–12 cm long. Panicle branches flexuous; bearing congested spikelets.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; compressed strongly; (2.4–)3–3.6(–4) mm long; 1.5 mm wide; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes both absent or obscure.

FLORETS Fertile lemma 2.5–4 mm long; chartaceous; keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma midvein eciliate, or ciliate. Lemma surface glabrous, or pubescent. Lemma margins involute; eciliate, or ciliate. Palea 1.1 length of lemma; chartaceous; 3 -veined; 1-keeled. Palea keels eciliate, or ciliate.

FLOWER Lodicules 2. Anthers 2; 1–1.5 mm long. Stigmas 2.

DISTRIBUTION North America: eastern Canada, north-central USA, northeast USA, south-central USA, and southeast USA. South America: Brazil.

NOTES Oryzeae. Pyrah.

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