Leersia ligularis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes absent. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 100–200 cm long. Culm-internodes smooth, or retrorsely scabrous. Culm-nodes glabrous, or pubescent. Lateral branches lacking. Leaves cauline. Leaf-sheaths smooth, or retrorsely scabrous. Leaf-sheath auricles erect. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2–12 mm long; truncate. Leaf-blades 20–40 cm long; 8–25 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pilose; hairy adaxially. Leaf-blade margins scaberulous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 20–45 cm long. Primary panicle branches ascending, or spreading; 2–4 -nate. Panicle branches capillary.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; compressed strongly; subacute, or acute; 2–3 mm long; 1.2–1.6 mm wide; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes both absent or obscure.

FLORETS Fertile lemma 2–3 mm long; chartaceous; keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma midvein eciliate, or ciliolate. Lemma surface glabrous, or pubescent. Lemma margins involute; eciliate, or ciliolate. Palea 1 length of lemma; chartaceous; 3 -veined; 1-keeled.

FLOWER Lodicules 2. Anthers 2; 1–1.5 mm long. Stigmas 2.

FRUIT Caryopsis ovoid; 1.7–2.7 mm long.

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

NOTES Oryzeae. Pyrah.

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