GrassBase - The Online World Grass Flora

Descriptions

W.D. Clayton, M. Vorontsova, K.T. Harman & H. Williamson

© Copyright The Board of Trustees, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Luziola

HABIT Perennial. Stolons absent (9), or present (2). Culms erect (3/10), or geniculately ascending (2/10), or decumbent (4/10), or prostrate (3/10); slender (4/4); 5–42.5–115 cm long; spongy (2), or firm (9); rooting from lower nodes (4/4). Lateral branches ample (3/3). Leaf-sheath auricles absent (7), or erect (4). Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades linear, or lanceolate (2).

INFLORESCENCE Monoecious; with male and female spikelets in the same inflorescence (2), or with male and female spikelets in different inflorescences (9). Inflorescence a panicle (9), or composed of racemes (2), or comprising only a few spikelets (1); terminal (3), or axillary (8); exserted (8), or embraced at base by subtending leaf (3).

Panicle open (8/9), or contracted (1/9). Primary panicle branches without sterile bristles (8/9), or sterile at the tips (1/9).

Racemes single (1/2), or paired (1/2); ascending (1/2), or deflexed (1/2); bearing few fertile spikelets (2/2); bearing 1 fertile spikelets on each (1/2), or 2–3 fertile spikelets on each (2/2), or 4–6 fertile spikelets on each (1/2).

Sexes segregated (2/2); on bisexual branches (2/2); with male above (2/2). Spikelets appressed (2/3), or spreading (1/3); solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform (1/2), or oblong (1/2); tip cupuliform (2/2).

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets linear (1), or lanceolate (1), or elliptic (3), or ovate (3), or orbicular (3), or oblanceolate (1); laterally compressed (1), or subterete (10); 0.83–2.905–6 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes both absent or obscure.

FLORETS Fertile florets female. Fertile lemma lanceolate (1), or elliptic (7), or orbicular (3); membranous; without keel; wingless; 5 -veined (3), or 6 -veined (2), or 7 -veined (7), or 8 -veined (1), or 9 -veined (3), or 10 -veined (1), or 11 -veined (2). Lemma lateral veins ribbed. Lemma surface smooth (8), or scaberulous (1), or scabrous (2); unwrinkled; without grooves (9), or eventually splitting (2). Lemma apex obtuse (2), or acute (9). Palea 1 length of lemma; 4 -veined (3), or 5 -veined (6), or 9–10 -veined (1), or 11 -veined (2); without keels.

FLOWER Lodicules absent. Anthers 6 (6/8), or 7 (1/8), or 8 (2/8), or 9 (1/8), or 12 (1/8).

FRUIT Caryopsis with free brittle pericarp; ovoid; smooth (2/8), or striate (6/8).

MALE Male inflorescence terminal (9/9); unlike female (9/9); a panicle (7/9), or a single raceme (2/9). Male spikelets distinct from female; linear (3), or lanceolate (3), or elliptic (3), or oblong (3), or ovate (1). Male spikelet glumes absent.

DISTRIBUTION North America (6), or South America.

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