Zizania latifolia

HABIT Perennial. Stolons present. Culms 100–150 cm long; spongy. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 12–20 mm long. Leaf-blades 30–100 cm long; 20–30 mm wide; coriaceous. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; rough on both sides. Leaf-blade margins cartilaginous; scabrous. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

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

Panicle open; lanceolate; 35–50 cm long.

Sexes segregated; on unisexual branches; with male below. Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Male spikelets pedicelled (pendulous). Pedicels 3 mm long; pubescent; tip cupuliform.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 15–17 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes both absent or obscure.

FLORETS Fertile florets female. Fertile lemma oblong; 15–17 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 15–50 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined; without keels.

FLOWER Lodicules 2. Anthers 6; 5–8 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; linear; 10–20 mm long.

MALE Male spikelets distinct from female; 8–12 mm long. Male spikelet glumes absent. Male spikelet lemma 5 -veined; awned (8–10mm).

DISTRIBUTION Europe: eastern. Asia-temperate: Siberia, Soviet far east, China, and eastern Asia. Asia-tropical: India, Indo-China, and Malesia. Australasia: New Zealand. Pacific: north-central.

NOTES Oryzeae. Bor.

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