Luziola fluitans

HABIT Perennial. Culms prostrate; slender; 30–100 cm long; rooting from lower nodes. Leaf-sheaths 1–3 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1 mm long. Leaf-blades floating; 2–4 cm long; 2–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex acute, or acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Monoecious; with male and female spikelets in different inflorescences. Inflorescence composed of racemes, or comprising only a few spikelets; comprising 1–3 fertile spikelets; axillary; embraced at base by subtending leaf.

Racemes 1; single; bearing few fertile spikelets; bearing 1–3 fertile spikelets on each.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; subterete; 4 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes both absent or obscure.

FLORETS Fertile florets female. Fertile lemma elliptic; 4 mm long; membranous; without keel; 5–7 -veined. Lemma lateral veins ribbed. Lemma apex acute. Palea lanceolate; 1 length of lemma; 5 -veined; without keels. Palea apex acute.

FLOWER Lodicules absent. Anthers 6.

FRUIT Caryopsis with free brittle pericarp; ovoid.

MALE Male inflorescence terminal; unlike female; a single raceme. Male spikelets distinct from female; 1 flowered; separately deciduous; lanceolate; 2 mm long. Male spikelet glumes absent. Male spikelet lemma 7 -veined.

DISTRIBUTION North America: southeast USA and Mexico. South America: Mesoamericana.

NOTES Oryzeae. Swallen.

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