Leptaspis angustifolia

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes elongated. Culms erect; 30–60 cm long. Culm-internodes solid. Lateral branches lacking. Leaves mostly basal. Leaf-sheaths keeled. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blade base with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath; petiole pubescent. Leaf-blades inverted; linear; 20–45 cm long; 4–10 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation slanting obliquely from midrib; with distinct cross veins. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; rough on both sides; glabrous. Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Monoecious; with male and female spikelets in the same inflorescence. Inflorescence a panicle, or composed of racemes.

Panicle contracted; linear; 10–13 cm long. Primary panicle branches 3–5 in number; appressed; 1 -nate; simple; 1.5–2.5 cm long. Panicle branches angular; scaberulous.

Racemes 3–5; borne along a central axis; appressed; 1.5–2.5 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 10–13 cm long. Spikelet packing distant.

Sexes mixed. Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled; 1 in the cluster; on shorter pedicels than sterile. Male spikelets pedicelled; 1 in a cluster. Pedicels linear.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets orbicular; cochleate; laterally compressed; gibbous; 3 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 2 mm long; 0.66 length of upper glume; herbaceous; dark brown; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface pubescent; with hooked hairs. Lower glume apex cuspidate. Upper glume ovate; 3 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; herbaceous; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume surface pubescent; with hooked hairs. Upper glume apex cuspidate.

FLORETS Fertile florets female. Fertile lemma orbicular; gibbous; 3 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 9 -veined. Lemma lateral veins ribbed. Lemma surface pubescent; with hooked hairs. Lemma margins closed except for an apical pore; covering most of palea. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea linear; 2 mm long; 0.66 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels contiguous above a sulcus; puberulous. Palea apex obtuse.

FLOWER Lodicules absent. Anthers 6. Stigmas 3; terminally exserted; pubescent. Styles connate below. Ovary pubescent all over.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

MALE Male spikelets similar to female but less developed; 1 flowered; 2 mm long. Male spikelet glumes 2.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: Papuasia. Pacific: southwestern.

NOTES Phareae. CEH.

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