Isachne leersioides

HABIT Annual. Culms rambling; 100–200 cm long. Lateral branches ample. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface, or pilose; with tubercle-based hairs. Ligule a ciliate membrane; 1 mm long. Leaf-blades 5–15 cm long; 0.5–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough on both sides. Leaf-blade margins cartilaginous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong, or ovate; 5–15 cm long; 3–7 cm wide. Primary panicle branches ascending, or spreading; 1 -nate; rebranched below middle. Panicle branches stiff.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 2–3 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets orbicular; dorsally compressed; 1 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating above glumes but not between florets.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblong; 0.9 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume surface hispidulous. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 0.9 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume surface hispidulous. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma orbicular; 1 mm long; coriaceous; without keel. Lemma surface pubescent. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea coriaceous; 2 -veined.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Caribbean.

NOTES Isachneae. N Amer Fl 1994.

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