Porteresia coarctata

HABIT Perennial. Culms decumbent; 50–90 cm long; rooting from lower nodes. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2–3 mm long. Leaf-blades 20–40 cm long; 5–8 mm wide; coriaceous. Leaf-blade surface ribbed. Leaf-blade margins cartilaginous; spinulose. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; lanceolate; 10–20 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels tip discoid.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; 10–12 mm long; falling entire. Spikelet callus attached transversely.

GLUMES Glumes both absent or obscure.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets similar; barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret subulate; 3–4 mm long. Lemma of upper sterile floret subulate; 3–4 mm long. Fertile lemma oblong; 10–12 mm long; coriaceous; keeled; 9 -veined. Lemma apex rostrate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn pungent; 3 mm long overall. Palea elliptic; 1 length of lemma; coriaceous; 4 -veined. Palea apex acuminate.

FLOWER Lodicules 2. Anthers 6.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; oblong; isodiametric; biconvex. Embryo 0.5 length of caryopsis. Hilum linear; 1 length of caryopsis.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: India and Indo-China.

NOTES Oryzeae. WDC.

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