Leptochloa digitata

HABIT Perennial. Rootstock evident. Cataphylls evident. Culms erect; 100–200 cm long. Culm-nodes glabrous. Lateral branches sparse. Leaves cauline. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5 mm long. Leaf-blades persistent, or deciduous at the ligule; 5–20 cm long; 3–6 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 6–20; digitate; unilateral; 5–9 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 0.5–1 cm long. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; crowded; regular; 2 -rowed.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–7 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; 3–4 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 1.5 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 2 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 2 mm long; membranous; keeled; lightly keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins close to margins. Lemma surface glabrous. Lemma margins eciliate. Lemma apex emarginate. Palea 2 -veined. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.3 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Tothill 1993.

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