Leptochloa nealleyi

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Culms erect; 60–150 cm long. Lateral branches lacking, or sparse. Leaf-sheaths keeled; scaberulous; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1–3 mm long; lacerate; truncate. Leaf-blades flat, or involute; 3–10 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex filiform.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes numerous; 25–75; borne along a central axis; simply spaced, or the lowest whorled; erect, or ascending; unilateral; 2–6 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 20–45 cm long. Rhachis semiterete. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; regular; 2 -rowed.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–4 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 2–3 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 1–1.5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface smooth, or asperulous. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 1–1.5 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume surface smooth, or asperulous. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 1–1.6 mm long; membranous; keeled; lightly keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins close to margins. Lemma margins pubescent. Lemma apex emarginate, or obtuse. Palea 2 -veined. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; oblong; 1 mm long. Embryo 0.6 length of caryopsis.

DISTRIBUTION North America: south-central USA, southeast USA, and Mexico. South America: Caribbean.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Gr Texas 1994.

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