Poaceae
Leptaspis

Leptaspis banksii R.Br.

First published in Prodr. Fl. Nov. Holland.: 211 (1810)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is Thailand to Taiwan and New Caledonia. It is a perennial and grows primarily in the wet tropical biome.

Descriptions

Extinction risk predictions for the world's flowering plants to support their conservation (2024). Bachman, S.P., Brown, M.J.M., Leão, T.C.C., Lughadha, E.N., Walker, B.E. https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/nph.19592

Conservation
Predicted extinction risk: not threatened. Confidence: confident
[AERP]

Morphology General Habit
Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 20-40 cm long. Culm-internodes solid. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blade base with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath. Leaf-blades inverted; lanceolate; 10-25 cm long; 10-25 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation slanting obliquely from midrib; with distinct cross veins. Leaf-blade surface pubescent; hairy abaxially. Leaf-blade apex acute.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Monoecious; with male and female spikelets in the same inflorescence. Inflorescence a panicle. Panicle open; lanceolate; 15-20 cm long. Primary panicle branches appressed; 1 -nate; simple; 1-5 cm long. Sexes mixed. Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled; 1 in the cluster; on shorter pedicels than sterile. Male spikelets pedicelled; 1 in a cluster.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets
Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets orbicular; cochleate; laterally compressed; gibbous; 5-7 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Male spikelets similar to female but less developed; 1 flowered; 2 mm long. Male spikelet glumes 2.
Fertile
Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets orbicular; cochleate; laterally compressed; gibbous; 5-7 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume
Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 2 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; dark brown; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface pubescent; with hooked hairs. Lower glume apex cuspidate. Upper glume ovate; 2 mm long; 0.3-0.4 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; dark brown; without keels; 1-3 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume surface pubescent; with hooked hairs. Upper glume apex cuspidate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Florets
Fertile florets female. Fertile lemma orbicular; gibbous; 5-7 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. 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 linear. Palea keels contiguous above a sulcus.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Lodicules absent. Anthers 6. Stigmas 3; terminally exserted; pubescent. Styles connate below. Ovary pubescent all over.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.
sex Male
Male spikelets similar to female but less developed; 1 flowered; 2 mm long. Male spikelet glumes 2.
Distribution
Asia-temperate: eastern Asia. Asia-tropical: Malesia and Papuasia. Australasia: Australia. Pacific: southwestern.
Reference
Phareae. WDC.
[GB]

Sources

  • Angiosperm Extinction Risk Predictions v1

    • Angiosperm Threat Predictions
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

  • 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

  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

    • Digital Image © Board of Trustees, RBG Kew http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • 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

  • 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