Leptochloa barbata

HABIT Perennial. Culms erect; 30–80 cm long. Culm-internodes smooth. Culm-nodes glabrous. Leaf-sheaths longer than adjacent culm internode; outer margin hairy. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5 mm long. Collar glabrous. Leaf-blades 4.5–12.5 cm long; 4–7 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially; glabrous; hairless except near base.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 12–20; borne along a central axis; unilateral; 2–5 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 10–30 cm long. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis. Raceme-bases pubescent.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–4(–6) fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 3.5–5.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume oblong; 1.5–2.6 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scaberulous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume oblong; 2–3 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scabrous. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 2–2.6 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent. Lemma margins ciliolate. Lemma apex emarginate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 4.5–8 mm long overall. Palea 2 -veined. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.2–0.6 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis 1.6–1.8 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION South America: southern South America.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Nicora 1997.

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