Leptochloa festuciformis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 15–30 cm long. Culm-internodes smooth; distally glabrous. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 4–6 mm long. Leaf-blades convolute; 8–15 cm long; 1–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough on both sides.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes; embraced at base by subtending leaf.

Racemes borne along a central axis; straight; unilateral; 2 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 10–14 cm long. Rhachis scabrous on margins. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile, or pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 5–6 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; compressed slightly; 4–7 mm long; 1–1.3 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 0.7–1.2 mm long; 0.5–0.66 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume oblong; 1.5–1.8 mm long; 0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scabrous. Upper glume lateral veins absent.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 2–2.2 mm long; membranous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins close to margins. Lemma margins ciliate; hairy below. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels ciliolate; adorned in the middle. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3; 0.3–0.4 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with tardily free pericarp; 1 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: north.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Scholz 2005.

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