Leptochloa rupestris

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Stolons present; with alternating elongated and bunched internodes. Culms decumbent; 30–90 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades spreading, or reflexed; lanceolate; 3–10.5 cm long; 2–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface smooth. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes numerous; borne along a central axis; straight, or arcuate; unilateral; 2–5 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 6–25 cm long. Rhachis semiterete. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; regular; 2 -rowed.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 1.6–2.4 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets, or reaching apex of florets, or shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 1.6–2.3 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic; 1.6–2.3 mm long; 0.9–1.1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong, or ovate; 1.7–2.1 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma midvein pubescent. Lemma lateral veins close to margins. Lemma surface glabrous. Lemma margins pubescent. Lemma apex entire; acute. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels ciliolate.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: northeast tropical and east tropical. Asia-temperate: Arabia.

NOTES Eragrostideae. FTEA.

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