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Descriptions

W.D. Clayton, M. Vorontsova, K.T. Harman & H. Williamson

© Copyright The Board of Trustees, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Leptochloa decipiens

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 60–150 cm long. Culm-internodes distally pruinose, or glabrous. Lateral branches lacking, or sparse. Leaf-sheaths antrorsely scabrous; glabrous on surface, or hirsute; with tubercle-based hairs. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1.5–2 mm long. Leaf-blades 10–20 cm long; 3–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; glabrous, or hirsute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 5–25; borne along a central axis; unilateral; 5–14.5 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 20–50 cm long. Rhachis semiterete. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; regular; 2 -rowed.

Spikelets solitary, or in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 1–2 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–6 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 3–6 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 1–1.8 mm long; 0.66–0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface smooth, or asperulous. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume obovate; 1.5–2.5 mm long; 0.75–1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume surface smooth, or asperulous. Upper glume apex obtuse, or acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic, or oblong; 2–2.8 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma midvein eciliate, or pubescent; hairy above. Lemma lateral veins close to margins. Lemma margins ciliolate, or ciliate. Lemma hairs 1 mm long. Lemma apex emarginate, or truncate, or obtuse. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels scaberulous; ciliate; adorned above. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FRUIT Caryopsis with free soft pericarp; ellipsoid, or oblong; dorsally compressed; 1–1.3 mm long; truncate, or obtuse.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia. Pacific: southwestern.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Lazarides 1993.

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