Luziola spruceana

HABIT Perennial. Culms prostrate; 50–90 cm long; spongy; rooting from lower nodes. Lateral branches ample. Leaf-sheaths inflated; 15–30 cm long. Leaf-sheath auricles erect. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 20–30 mm long. Leaf-blades 25–50 cm long; 10–20 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Monoecious; with male and female spikelets in different inflorescences. Inflorescence a panicle; axillary; shorter than basal leaves; embraced at base by subtending leaf.

Panicle contracted; oblong; 3–6 cm long. Primary panicle branches reflexed; bearing spikelets almost to the base; sterile at the tips. Panicle branches scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets linear, or lanceolate; subterete; acuminate; 5 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes both absent or obscure.

FLORETS Fertile florets female. Fertile lemma lanceolate; 5 mm long; membranous; without keel; 7–9 -veined. Lemma lateral veins ribbed. Lemma surface scabrous; rough on veins; eventually splitting (into fibres). 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; 2 mm long; striate.

MALE Male inflorescence terminal; unlike female; a panicle. Male spikelets distinct from female; 1 flowered; separately deciduous; lanceolate; 5 mm long. Male spikelet glumes absent.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Mexico. South America: Mesoamericana, Caribbean, and Brazil.

NOTES Oryzeae. Gr W Ind.

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