Zizaniopsis miliacea

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes elongated. Culms 200–300 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 6–20 mm long. Leaf-blades 50–150 cm long; 8–22 mm wide. Leaf-blade margins serrulate.

INFLORESCENCE Monoecious; with male and female spikelets in the same inflorescence. Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; lanceolate to ovate; 30–60 cm long.

Sexes segregated; on bisexual branches; with male below. Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Male spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; 6–8 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes both absent or obscure.

FLORETS Fertile florets female. Fertile lemma ovate; 6–8 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 7 -veined. Lemma apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 2–3 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma; chartaceous; 3 -veined; 1-keeled.

FLOWER Lodicules 2. Anthers 6. Stigmas 2.

FRUIT Caryopsis with free brittle pericarp; orbicular; isodiametric; 3 mm long; apex rostrate. Embryo 0.33 length of caryopsis.

MALE Male spikelets distinct from female; 1 flowered; separately deciduous; ovate; 6–8 mm long. Male spikelet glumes absent. Male spikelet lemma 7 -veined; muticous.

DISTRIBUTION North America: north-central USA, south-central USA, southeast USA, and Mexico.

NOTES Oryzeae. Gould.

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