Leptochloa obtusiflora

HABIT Perennial. Culms erect, or decumbent; 40–180 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 10–35 cm long; 2.5–14 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough on both sides. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 5–20; borne along a central axis; straight, or arcuate; unilateral; 5–16 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 10–30 cm long. Rhachis semiterete. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; regular; 2 -rowed.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 6–14 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 4–7 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; dissimilar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume oblong; 1.8–2.3 mm long; 0.8–0.9 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume oblong; 2–2.6 mm long; 1–1.2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic, or oblong; 1.7–2.5 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma midvein pubescent. Lemma lateral veins close to margins. Lemma surface glabrous. Lemma margins pubescent; hairy below. Lemma apex entire, or dentate; 2 -fid; emarginate, or obtuse. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels puberulous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FRUIT Caryopsis with free soft pericarp; ellipsoid, or oblong; concavo-convex; 1–1.2 mm long; dark brown.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: west-central tropical, northeast tropical, east tropical, and southern tropical. Asia-temperate: Arabia. Asia-tropical: India.

NOTES Eragrostideae. FTEA.

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