Leptochloa procera

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes absent. Culms erect; 30–100 cm long. Culm-nodes glabrous. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths mostly shorter than adjacent culm internode; glabrous on surface; outer margin hairy. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 0.5–0.6 mm long; truncate. Leaf-blades 16–25 cm long; 5–10 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 25–30; borne along a central axis; flexuous; unilateral; 5–15 cm long. Rhachis glabrous on surface, or puberulous on surface. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–6 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 2.6–3.6 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus glabrous.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume oblong; 1.2–2 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume oblong; 1.2–1.5 mm long; 0.66 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 2.5–2.6 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma midvein eciliate, or pubescent. Lemma surface puberulous, or pubescent; hairy on veins. Lemma margins ciliolate. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; muticous, or mucronate. Palea 1 length of lemma. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 2; 0.2–0.4 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; trigonous; 1.5–1.6 mm long; dark brown. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Caribbean, northern South America, western South America, Brazil, and southern South America.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Nicora 2010.

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