Oryza meridionalis

HABIT Annual. Culms erect; 100–200 cm long; rooting from lower nodes. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 9–21 mm long; acute. Leaf-blades 41–78 cm long; 13–16 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; nodding; 10–20 cm long. Primary panicle branches appressed; sparsely divided; subdividing 1 times; rebranched near base. Panicle branches stiff.

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

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 6–10 mm long; 2–2.5 mm wide; falling entire. Rhachilla internodes elongated below proximal fertile floret. Rhachilla elongation stout; 0.5 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes both absent or obscure.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets similar; barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret linear, or oblong; 2.4 mm long; 0.25 length of spikelet; 1 -veined; without lateral veins. Lemma of upper sterile floret linear, or oblong; 2.4 mm long; 1 length of lower sterile floret. Fertile lemma oblong; laterally compressed; 6–10 mm long; coriaceous; keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma midvein spinulose. Lemma surface scaberulous and reticulate. Lemma margins interlocking with palea margins. Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 63–115 mm long overall; limb scabrous. Palea elliptic; 7 mm long; coriaceous; 3 -veined; 1-keeled. Palea surface scabrous. Palea apex acute; awned; awns 0–6 mm long.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 6; 1.5–2.2 mm long. Stigmas 2.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; oblong; 7.4–8.3 mm long. Embryo 0.1 length of caryopsis. Disseminule comprising a floret.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Oryzeae. Ng 2013.

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