Leptochloa longa

HABIT Perennial. Culms geniculately ascending; 150 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5 mm long. Collar pubescent. Leaf-blades 20–40 cm long; 15–25 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 15–20; borne along a central axis; spreading; flexuous; unilateral; 15–20 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 10–20 cm long. Rhachis semiterete. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; regular; 2 -rowed.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

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

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 2.5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 2.5 mm long; 0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 3 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins close to margins. Lemma margins pubescent. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; 3–4 mm long overall. Palea 2 -veined. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Mesoamericana and Caribbean.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Gr WI 1994.

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