Leptochloa scabra

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Culms erect; 90–100 cm long; 3–6 mm diam. Culm-nodes constricted; glabrous. Leaf-sheaths keeled; glabrous on surface. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 1.5–3 mm long. Leaf-blades 25–50 cm long; 6–14 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; glabrous. Leaf-blade margins scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes numerous; borne along a central axis; unilateral; 7–10 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 20–40 cm long. Rhachis semiterete. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; regular; 2 -rowed.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–6 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; 3.7–4.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 0.7–1.1 mm long; 0.66 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume ovate; 1.2–1.7 mm long; 0.75–0.8 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong, or ovate; 1.4–2.3 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma midvein ciliate; hairy below. Lemma lateral veins close to margins. Lemma margins ciliolate; hairy below. Lemma apex acuminate. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.2–0.3 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: Papuasia. North America: southeast USA and Mexico. South America: Mesoamericana, Caribbean, northern South America, western South America, Brazil, and southern South America.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Fl Costa Rica 1994.

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