Poaceae

Leptaspis R.Br.

First published in Prodr. Fl. Nov. Holland.: 211 (1810)
This genus is accepted
The native range of this genus is Tropical Old World to SW. Pacific.

Descriptions

Gramineae, E. Launert. Flora Zambesiaca 10:1. 1971

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Palea
Palea shorter than the lemma, membranous, distinctly 2-keeled, 2-nerved, narrowly oblong, with the apex bidentate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens 6; filaments rather short; anthers linear.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets
Hermaphrodite spikelets subsessile, rather conspicuous, ovoid or conchiform, inflated. Spikelets 1-flowered, monoecious, heteromorphous, unisexual. Male spikelets usually much smaller and less conspicuous than the hermaphrodite.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume
Glumes 2, subequal, much shorter than the spikelet. Glumes 2, much smaller than the spikelet, subequal, membranous, ovate, 5-7-nerved, usually spreading.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Lemma
Lemma with the margins connate (thus utricle-like) with an apical or lateral porus, inflated, prominently nerved and usually longitudinally ribbed, more or less densely covered with stiff short hooked hairs. Lemma similar to the glumes but with more nerves, cymbiform.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Palea completely enclosed by the lemma, longer than the utricle and often appearing at the porus, very delicate, linear, 2-keeled, with the apex bidentate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Lodicules
Lodicules very small to nil.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary
Ovary small, narrowly ovoid, gibbous; style simple; stigmas 3, rather long, filiform, plumose, exserted through the porus of the lemma.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Caryopsis free from the lemma, oblong in outline, compressed; hilum linear, within a longitudinal groove; embryo very small.
Morphology General Habit
Perennial rhizomatous bamboo-like grasses.
Morphology Leaves Leaf lamina
Leaf-laminas large, asymmetric, with a typical slanting venation, tessellate, born on a twisted (180°) pseudopetiole.
Morphology Leaves Ligules
Ligule scarious, often fringed.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence a loose panicle, usually terminal, containing male and female spike-lets, with the females in a group at the base and the male or males terminal on the branchlets.
[FZ]

nonem

Morphology General Habit
Perennial. Rhizomes absent (1), or elongated (2). Culms erect (2), or geniculately ascending (1); 20-46.66-100 cm long; rooting from lower nodes (1/1). Lateral branches lacking (1/1). Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blade base with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath (2), or with a false petiole (1). Leaf-blades linear (1), or lanceolate (1), or oblong (1). Leaf-blade venation slanting obliquely from midrib; with distinct cross veins.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Monoecious; with male and female spikelets in the same inflorescence. Inflorescence a panicle, or composed of racemes (1). Panicle open (2), or contracted (1). Primary panicle branches not whorled (2), or whorled at most nodes (1). Racemes borne along a central axis (1/1); appressed (1/1). Spikelet packing distant (1/1). Sexes mixed. Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets sessile (1), or pedicelled (2); 1 in the cluster. Male spikelets pedicelled; 1 in a cluster. Pedicels linear (2/2).
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets
Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets orbicular; cochleate; laterally compressed; gibbous; 2.49-4.681-7 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Male spikelets similar to female but less developed. Male spikelet glumes 2.
Fertile
Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets orbicular; cochleate; laterally compressed; gibbous; 2.49-4.681-7 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume
Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet (2), or reaching apex of florets (1); thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.66-0.8867-1 length of upper glume; membranous (2), or herbaceous (1); without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface pubescent. Lower glume apex cuspidate. Upper glume ovate; 0.3-0.6167-1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous (2), or herbaceous (1); without keels; 1 -veined, or 2-3 -veined (2). Upper glume surface pubescent; with hooked hairs. Upper glume apex cuspidate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Florets
Fertile florets female. Fertile lemma orbicular; gibbous; chartaceous; without keel; 5 -veined (2), or 9 -veined (1). Lemma lateral veins ribbed. Lemma surface pubescent; with hooked hairs. Lemma margins closed except for an apical pore; covering most of palea. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea 0.5-0.58-0.66 length of lemma; 2 -veined (1/1). Palea keels contiguous above a sulcus; eciliate (2), or puberulous (1).
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Lodicules absent. Anthers 6. Stigmas 3; pubescent. Ovary pubescent all over (2/2).
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.
sex Male
Male spikelets similar to female but less developed. Male spikelet glumes 2.
Distribution
Africa (1), or Temperate Asia (1), or Tropical Asia, or Australasia (1), or Pacific (2).
[GB]

Gramineae, W. D. Clayton, S. M. Phillips And S. A. Renvoize. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1974

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets
Lemma of ♀ spikelet shell- or urn-shaped, closed except for a tiny pore through which the stigmas and tip of the palea protrude.
sex Female
Lemma of ♀ spikelet shell- or urn-shaped, closed except for a tiny pore through which the stigmas and tip of the palea protrude.
[FTEA]

Sources

  • Flora Zambesiaca

    • Flora Zambesiaca
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora of Tropical East Africa

    • Flora of Tropical East Africa
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • GrassBase - The Online World Grass Flora

    • Clayton, W.D., Vorontsova, M.S., Harman, K.T. and Williamson, H. (2006 onwards). GrassBase - The Online World Grass Flora.
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • World Checklist of Vascular plants (WCVP)

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0