Luziola brasiliensis

HABIT Perennial. Culms geniculately ascending, or decumbent; 40–80 cm long; spongy; rooting from lower nodes. Leaf-sheaths inflated. Leaf-sheath auricles erect. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 8 mm long. Leaf-blades linear, or lanceolate; 30–70 cm long; 20–30 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Monoecious; with male and female spikelets in the same inflorescence. Inflorescence a panicle; terminal.

Panicle open; lanceolate; 10–22 cm long. Panicle branches capillary.

Sexes segregated; on bisexual branches; with male above. Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; subterete; 2.5 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes both absent or obscure.

FLORETS Fertile florets female. Fertile lemma elliptic; 2.5 mm long; membranous; without keel; 5–7 -veined. Lemma lateral veins ribbed. Lemma surface smooth. Lemma apex acute. Palea lanceolate; 1 length of lemma; 4 -veined; without keels. Palea apex obtuse.

FLOWER Lodicules absent.

FRUIT Caryopsis with free brittle pericarp; ovoid; 2 mm long; smooth.

MALE Male spikelets distinct from female; 1 flowered; separately deciduous; ovate; 4 mm long. Male spikelet glumes absent. Male spikelet lemma 7 -veined.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil.

NOTES Oryzeae. Fl Cat.

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