Leptochloa panicoides

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 40–100 cm long. Lateral branches ample. Leaf-sheaths without keel; smooth; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1–4 mm long; erose; truncate. Leaf-blades flat, or involute; 6–12 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; glabrous. Leaf-blade margins scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes few, or numerous; 4–90; borne along a central axis; ascending; unilateral; 3–8 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 10–25 cm long. Rhachis semiterete. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; regular; 2 -rowed.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile, or pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 5–7 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong, or ovate; 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; 1.2–1.5 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute, or acuminate. Upper glume elliptic; 1.6–2 mm long; 0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1–3 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent, or obscure. Upper glume apex acute, or acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 2–2.8 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins close to margins. Lemma margins pubescent; hairy below. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; acute; mucronate. Palea 2 -veined. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION North America: north-central USA, northeast USA, south-central USA, southeast USA, and Mexico. South America: Mesoamericana, western South America, and Brazil.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Gr Texas 1994.

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