Leptochloa eleusine

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes elongated. Culms geniculately ascending; 50–120 cm long. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 1.5 mm long. Leaf-blades 10–20 cm long; 2–4 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 2–8; borne along a central axis; unilateral; 4–10 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 5–15 cm long. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; regular; 2 -rowed.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 5–10 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 4–8 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 3 mm long; 0.8–0.9 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume oblong; 3.5 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 oblong; 3.5 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins close to margins. Lemma surface glabrous. Lemma margins pubescent. Lemma apex emarginate, or obtuse. Palea 2 -veined. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: southern tropical and south.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Gr S Afr 1993.

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