Loudetia Hochst. ex Steud.

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

Morphology General Habit

Perennials or rarely annuals, mostly erect

Morphology Leaves

Leaf-blades linear, flat or rolled, not crinkled on the margin; ligule a ciliate fringe

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence a panicle, open or contracted, rarely spike-like

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

Spikelets solitary or in pairs (sometimes loose clusters of 3 in L. phragmitoides), brown, disarticulating below the upper floret, and tardily so below the lower which is ♂ or rarely barren; glumes chartaceous to coriaceous, 3-nerved, ± persistent, the upper as long as the spikelet, the lower 1/4–2/3 as long; lower lemma similar to the upper glume, 3-nerved; upper lemma oblong-elliptic, thinly coriaceous, glabrescent to pilose, 5–9-nerved, ± bidentate, with a deciduous (except L. phragmitoides) geniculate awn from the sinus; callus oblong to linear, truncate, 2-toothed or obliquely pungent; palea-keels with thickened nerves, wingless; stamens 2–3

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Caryopsis lanceolate, glabrous, the hilum linear.

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Morphology General Habit

Annual (9), or perennial (16). Rhizomes absent (24), or short (1). Culms erect (18/19), or geniculately ascending (7/19), or prostrate (1/19); slender (3/3); 15-91.2-400 cm long; firm (23), or wiry (2); rooting from lower nodes (1/1). Culm-nodes flush with internodes (1/1). Lateral branches lacking (6/8), or sparse (2/8), or ample (1/8). Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades filiform (5), or linear (23); stiff (6), or firm (19).

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence a panicle; terminal (24), or terminal and axillary (1). Panicle open (10), or contracted (11), or spiciform (5). Primary panicle branches not whorled (23), or whorled at most nodes (2). Spikelets appressed (3/3); solitary (23), or in pairs (2), or in threes (2). Fertile spikelets pedicelled; 3 in the cluster (1/1). Pedicels filiform (1/5), or oblong (4/5).

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets linear (4), or lanceolate (21), or oblong (4); laterally compressed; 6-11.7-32 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident (16), or elongated (9); glabrous (2), or pubescent (13), or bearded (10); truncate (13), or acute (2), or pungent (3), or unequally 2-toothed (3), or 2-toothed (6).

Fertile

Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets linear (4), or lanceolate (21), or oblong (4); laterally compressed; 6-11.7-32 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident (16), or elongated (9); glabrous (2), or pubescent (13), or bearded (10); truncate (13), or acute (2), or pungent (3), or unequally 2-toothed (3), or 2-toothed (6).

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume

Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet (3), or reaching apex of florets (17), or exceeding apex of florets (5); thinner than fertile lemma; parallel to lemmas (21), or gaping (4). Lower glume lanceolate (7), or elliptic (2), or oblong (2), or ovate (16); chartaceous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume surface glabrous (13), or puberulous (1), or pilose (2), or hispid (1), or setose (15). Lower glume apex entire (23), or dentate (3); 2 -fid (1/3), or 3 -fid (2/3); truncate (1/23), or obtuse (14/23), or acute (9/23), or acuminate (4/23), or setaceously attenuate (1/23); muticous (22), or mucronate (3). Upper glume lanceolate (24), or oblong (1); chartaceous; without keels; 3 -veined, or 4-5 -veined (1). Upper glume surface smooth (24), or asperulous (1); glabrous (16), or pilose (3), or hispid (1), or setose (11); with tubercle-based hairs (15/15). Upper glume apex truncate (8), or obtuse (11), or acute (5), or acuminate (5), or caudate (2); muticous (24), or mucronate (1).

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Florets

Basal sterile florets male (23), or barren (2); with palea (24), or without significant palea (1). Lemma of lower sterile floret lanceolate (23), or oblong (2), or ovate (1); chartaceous (4/4); 3 -veined, or 4-5 -veined (1); emarginate (1), or truncate (3), or obtuse (6), or acute (13), or acuminate (8), or attenuate (1), or setaceously attenuate (1). Palea of lower sterile floret wingless (22/24), or winged on keels (2/24). Fertile lemma elliptic (3), or oblong (22); coriaceous; without keel; 5 -veined (8), or 6 -veined (3), or 7 -veined (18), or 9 -veined (2). Lemma lateral veins obscure (5/5). Lemma surface pubescent (24), or villous (1). Lemma margins involute; interlocking with palea keels. Lemma apex entire (6), or dentate (16), or lobed (4); 2 -fid (20/20); incised 0.1-0.175-0.2 of lemma length; emarginate (4/22), or obtuse (1/22), or acute (18/22); awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn apical (4), or from a sinus (22); flexuous (1), or geniculate (24). Column of lemma awn glabrous (16/24), or puberulous (6/24), or pubescent (1/24), or hirsute (1/24). Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels approximate; thickened. Palea surface glabrous (23), or pubescent (2).

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Anthers 2 (21), or 3 (4).

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform (1/1). Hilum linear (5/5).

Distribution

Africa (24), or Temperate Asia (1), or South America (1).

Gramineae, W. D. Clayton. Flora Zambesiaca 10:3. 1989

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Panicle open, contracted or spiciform, bearing spikelets singly or in pairs.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

Spikelets brown, disarticulating beneath the superior floret and tardily so beneath the inferior.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Lemma

Inferior lemma 3-nerved. Superior lemma bidentate, with a deciduous (except L. phragmitoides) awn from the sinus; callus oblong to linear, truncate, 2-toothed or obliquely pungent; palea not winged.