Luziola bahiensis

HABIT Perennial. Stolons present. Culms slender; 6–12(–30) cm long. Leaves basal and cauline. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades linear, or lanceolate; 5–30 cm long; 2–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Monoecious; with male and female spikelets in different inflorescences. Inflorescence a panicle; terminal; shorter than basal leaves.

Panicle open; oblong, or ovate; 4–9 cm long. Primary panicle branches appressed, or ascending, or spreading; sparsely divided.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; subterete; acuminate; 3–4.5 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes both absent or obscure.

FLORETS Fertile florets female. Fertile lemma elliptic; 3–4.5 mm long; membranous; without keel; 9–11 -veined. Lemma lateral veins ribbed. Lemma surface smooth. Lemma apex acute. Palea lanceolate; 1 length of lemma; 9–11 -veined; without keels. Palea apex acute.

FLOWER Lodicules absent. Anthers 6.

FRUIT Caryopsis with free brittle pericarp; ovoid; concealed by floret; 1.2 mm long; striate.

MALE Male inflorescence terminal; unlike female; a panicle. Male spikelets distinct from female; 1 flowered; separately deciduous; elliptic, or oblong; 5.5–7 mm long. Male spikelet glumes absent. Male spikelet lemma 7–9 -veined.

DISTRIBUTION North America: southeast USA. South America: Mesoamericana, Caribbean, northern South America, western South America, Brazil, and southern South America.

NOTES Oryzeae. Gr Bahia.

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