Lepturus radicans

HABIT Perennial. Stolons present. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 10–30 cm long. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blade base without a false petiole, or with a false petiole (lower leaves). Leaf-blades linear, or lanceolate; 2–12.5 cm long; 4–8 mm wide; mid-green, or glaucous. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; smoothly terete; bilateral; 2–6.5 cm long. Rhachis fragile at the nodes; subcylindrical and excavated; glabrous on surface; glabrous on margins. Spikelet packing adaxial; regular; 2 -rowed. Rhachis internodes oblong; 2–5 mm long. Rhachis internode tip oblique; flat.

Spikelets sunken; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension, or with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; dorsally compressed; 3–5 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Upper glume oblong; 3–5 mm long; 1.2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; coriaceous; without keels; 5–9 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins ribbed. Upper glume apex acute, or acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 2.5–4 mm long; membranous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins extending close to apex. Lemma surface glabrous, or puberulous; hairy below. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels winged; narrowly winged. Apical sterile florets 1 in number; lanceolate; 0–2 mm long.

FLOWER Lodicules 2. Anthers 3; 0.6–2 mm long. Stigmas 2.

FRUIT Caryopsis with free soft pericarp; ellipsoid; dorsally compressed. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: east tropical, southern tropical, and western Indian ocean. Asia-tropical: India and Malesia.

NOTES Leptureae. FTEA.

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