Leptochloa divaricatissima

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 30–60 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous, or pubescent. Lateral branches lacking, or sparse. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface, or pilose; with simple hairs, or tubercle-based hairs. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1–2 mm long. Leaf-blades 3–24 cm long; 1.5–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes numerous; borne along a central axis; spreading, or deflexed; unilateral; 10–20 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 15–60 cm long. Rhachis semiterete. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; contiguous, or lax; regular; 2 -rowed. Raceme-bases filiform; 20–45 mm long; glabrous, or pilose; hairy at base.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 0.8–2 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–5 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 3–4 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 1–1.2 mm long; 0.66–1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume oblong, or ovate; 1.5–2.8 mm long; 0.5–0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute, or cuspidate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 2–2.4 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma midvein pubescent; hairy below. Lemma lateral veins close to margins. Lemma margins ciliate. Lemma apex emarginate; muticous, or mucronate. Palea 2 -veined. Palea surface pubescent; hairy on flanks. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FRUIT Caryopsis with free soft pericarp; oblong; isodiametric; trigonous; 0.9–1.1 mm long; obtuse.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Lazarides 1993.

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