Oryza glaberrima

HABIT Annual. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 90–150 cm long. Leaf-sheaths smooth; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1.5–2 mm long; truncate. Leaf-blades 20–30 cm long; 10–15 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; linear; equilateral, or nodding; 15–25 cm long. Primary panicle branches appressed, or ascending. Panicle branches angular; scaberulous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels linear; angular; scaberulous; tip cupuliform; bibracteate.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic, or oblong; laterally compressed; 7–8 mm long; persistent on plant. Spikelet callus glabrous.

GLUMES Glumes both absent or obscure.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets similar; barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret lanceolate; 2–4 mm long; 0.3–0.5 length of spikelet; membranous; 1 -veined; without lateral veins; acute. Lemma of upper sterile floret lanceolate; 2–4 mm long; 1 length of lower sterile floret; membranous. Fertile lemma elliptic; laterally compressed; 7–8 mm long; coriaceous; keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma midvein eciliate. Lemma surface reticulate; glabrous. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex rostrate; muticous. Palea elliptic; 1 length of lemma; coriaceous; 3 -veined; 1-keeled. Palea keels smooth. Palea apex acute.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; lanceolate; membranous. Anthers 6. Stigmas 2.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Disseminule comprising a floret.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: west tropical and west-central tropical. Asia-temperate: China.

NOTES Oryzeae. WDC.

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