Leptaspis zeylanica

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes elongated. Culms geniculately ascending; 30–100 cm long; rooting from lower nodes. Culm-internodes solid. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 0.25 mm long; pubescent on abaxial surface. Leaf-blade base with a false petiole. Leaf-blades inverted; oblong; 10–30 cm long; 25–60 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation slanting obliquely from midrib; with distinct cross veins. Leaf-blade apex abruptly acute.

INFLORESCENCE Monoecious; with male and female spikelets in the same inflorescence. Inflorescence a panicle; bracteate at branch bases.

Panicle open; ovate; 10–45 cm long; contracted about primary branches. Primary panicle branches 3(–5) -nate; whorled at most nodes; 5–15 cm long. Panicle axis bearing persistent branches. Panicle branches stiff; straight; pubescent; with hooked hairs; with prominent pulvini.

Sexes mixed. Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets sessile; 1 in the cluster. Male spikelets pedicelled; 1 in a cluster. Pedicels linear; 1–2 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets orbicular; cochleate; laterally compressed; gibbous; 4–6 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 2–3 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface pubescent; with hooked hairs. Lower glume apex cuspidate. Upper glume ovate; 2–3 mm long; 0.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 1(–3) -veined. Upper glume surface pubescent; with hooked hairs. Upper glume apex cuspidate.

FLORETS Fertile florets female. Fertile lemma orbicular; gibbous; 4–6 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 5 -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; 0.5 length of lemma. Palea keels contiguous above a sulcus.

FLOWER Lodicules absent. Anthers 6; 2.1–2.6 mm long. Stigmas 3; terminally exserted; pubescent. Styles connate below.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

MALE Male spikelets similar to female but less developed; 1 flowered; separately deciduous; 3.5–4 mm long. Male spikelet glumes 2.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: west tropical, west-central tropical, northeast tropical, east tropical, southern tropical, and western Indian ocean. Asia-tropical: India, Malesia, and Papuasia.

NOTES Phareae. FTEA.

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