Poaceae
Mosdenia

Mosdenia leptostachys (Ficalho & Hiern) Clayton

First published in Kew Bull. 25: 250 (1971)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is Angola, Northern Prov. It is a perennial or rhizomatous geophyte and grows primarily in the seasonally dry 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; mat forming. Rhizomes elongated. Culms 40-90 cm long. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blades 2-3 mm wide.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence composed of racemes. Racemes 1; single; erect; multilateral; 4-14 cm long. Rhachis angular; glabrous on surface. Spikelets spreading; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets
Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; curved; dorsally compressed; 2.5-4 mm long; falling entire. Spikelet callus square; pubescent; base truncate; attached transversely.
Fertile
Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; curved; dorsally compressed; 2.5-4 mm long; falling entire. Spikelet callus square; pubescent; base truncate; attached transversely.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume
Glumes similar; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 2.5-4 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scaberulous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 1.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein conspicuous; scaberulous. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acuminate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Florets
Fertile lemma elliptic; 2 mm long; hyaline; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea hyaline; 2 -veined.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.
Distribution
Africa: south.
Reference
Cynodonteae. 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