Oryza neocaledonica

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped loosely. Rhizomes short. Culms geniculately ascending; 60–80 cm long. Culm-nodes glabrous. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheath oral hairs scanty. Leaf-sheath auricles absent. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 0.5–1 mm long. Leaf-blades 17–21 cm long; 7–11 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface smooth, or scaberulous; rough on both sides. Leaf-blade margins scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; comprising 7–40 fertile spikelets.

Panicle open; lanceolate, or ovate; 30–55 cm long; 3–8 cm wide; bearing few spikelets. Primary panicle branches simple. Panicle branches scabrous; rough distally.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels linear; sinuous; bibracteate.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic, or oblong; laterally compressed; 7–9 mm long; 1.5–1.8 mm wide; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes both absent or obscure.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets similar; barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret linear; 2–2.3 mm long; 0.33 length of spikelet; coriaceous; 1 -veined; without lateral veins. Lemma of upper sterile floret linear; 2–2.3 mm long; 1 length of lower sterile floret; coriaceous. Fertile lemma oblong; laterally compressed; 7–8 mm long; 3.5 mm wide; coriaceous; red (pink); keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma surface granulose; hispidulous (spinulose); with hooked hairs. Lemma margins interlocking with palea margins. Lemma apex acute; muticous. Palea elliptic; 7 mm long; coriaceous; 3 -veined; 1-keeled. Palea apex acute.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; 0.8 mm long; membranous. Anthers 6; 2.8–3 mm long; yellow. Stigmas 2.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; lanceolate, or ovoid; 5–6 mm long; dark brown. Embryo 0.2 length of caryopsis. Hilum linear. Disseminule comprising a floret.

DISTRIBUTION Pacific: southwestern.

NOTES Oryzeae. Morat 1996.

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