Luziola peruviana

HABIT Perennial. Culms geniculately ascending, or decumbent; slender; 10–67 cm long. Lateral branches ample. Leaves basal and cauline. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 8–26 cm long; 2–6 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Monoecious; with male and female spikelets in different inflorescences. Inflorescence a panicle; axillary; shorter than basal leaves.

Panicle open; ovate; 2.5–9 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; subterete; 2–2.5 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes both absent or obscure.

FLORETS Fertile florets female. Fertile lemma elliptic; 2–2.5 mm long; membranous; without keel; 7 -veined. Lemma lateral veins ribbed. Lemma surface scaberulous; rough on veins. Lemma apex acute. Palea lanceolate; 1 length of lemma; 4 -veined; without keels. Palea apex acute.

FLOWER Lodicules absent. Anthers 8.

FRUIT Caryopsis with free brittle pericarp; ovoid; 1.5 mm long; smooth.

MALE Male inflorescence terminal; unlike female; a panicle. Male spikelets distinct from female; 1 flowered; separately deciduous; oblong; 5.5–9 mm long. Male spikelet glumes absent. Male spikelet lemma 7 -veined.

DISTRIBUTION North America: southeast USA and Mexico. South America: Mesoamericana, Caribbean, western South America, Brazil, and southern South America.

NOTES Oryzeae. Gr Bahia.

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