Leptochloa marquisensis

HABIT Perennial. Rootstock evident. Culms erect; 20–40 cm long. Leaves mostly basal. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5 mm long. Leaf-blades 10–40 cm long; 4–8 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially; glabrous. Leaf-blade apex filiform.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes borne along a central axis; ascending; unilateral; 2–3 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 5–7 cm long. Rhachis semiterete; scabrous on surface; puberulous on surface. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; regular; 2 -rowed.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile, or pedicelled. Pedicels 1–2 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–4 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 4 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 2–3 mm long; 0.66–1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute; mucronate, or awned; 1 -awned. Lower glume awn 0.2–0.5 mm long. Upper glume lanceolate; 3 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scabrous. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 3 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma midvein scabrous. Lemma lateral veins close to margins. Lemma margins ciliolate. Lemma apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 0.5–1 mm long overall. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels ciliolate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Pacific: south-central.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Brown 1994.

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