Lepturopetium marshallense

HABIT Perennial. Stolons present. Culms decumbent; 30–50 cm long; rooting from lower nodes. Culm-internodes terete. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule a ciliate membrane. Leaf-blades flat, or involute; 6–8 cm long; 2–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade midrib evident. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1–3; single, or paired, or digitate; unilateral; 4–6 cm long; bearing 10–16 fertile spikelets on each. Rhachis angular; scabrous on surface; scabrous on margins. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; regular; 2 -rowed.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; 4.5–6 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; dissimilar; reaching apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate; 2 mm long; 0.33–0.5 length of upper glume; coriaceous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface scabrous; rough at apex. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 4.5–6 mm long; coriaceous; 1-keeled; 5–7 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scabrous. Upper glume lateral veins ribbed. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; laterally compressed; 2.5–4 mm long; cartilaginous; keeled; lightly keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma surface scabrous; rough above. Lemma margins ciliate. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; 2–3 mm long overall. Palea cartilaginous; 2 -veined. Palea keels ciliolate. Apical sterile florets 1 in number; barren; linear; 2.5 mm long.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

DISTRIBUTION Pacific: south-central and northwestern.

NOTES Cynodonteae. Fosberg & Sachet.

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