Leptochloa uniflora

HABIT Annual, or perennial; short-lived; caespitose. Culms erect, or decumbent; 50–150 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades lanceolate, or oblong; 4–12 cm long; 6–18 mm wide; flaccid. Leaf-blade surface smooth. Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes numerous; borne along a central axis; straight, or arcuate; unilateral; 2.5–9 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 15–45 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; 1.9–2.8 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets. Lower glume lanceolate; 1.7–2.3 mm long; 0.9–1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume elliptic; 1.8–2.4 mm long; 1.2–1.4 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 1.5–1.7 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; ellipsoid; isodiametric; trigonous; sulcate on hilar side; 1–1.2 mm long; dark brown, or red.

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

NOTES Eragrostideae. FTEA.

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