| TREATMENT FROM THE JEPSON MANUAL (1993) |
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©Copyright 1993 by the Regents of the University of California
For up-to-date information about California vascular plants, visit the Jepson eFlora. |
AND IS MAINTAINED FOR ARCHIVAL PURPOSES ONLY |
Annual to bamboo-like; roots generally fibrous
Stem generally round, hollow; nodes swollen, solid
Leaves alternate, 2-ranked, generally linear; sheath generally open; ligule membranous or hairy, at blade base
Inflorescence various (of generally many spikelets)
Spikelet: glumes generally 2; florets (lemma, palea, flower) 1–many; lemma generally membranous, sometimes glume-like; palea generally ± transparent, ± enclosed by lemma
Flower generally bisexual, minute; stamens generally 3; stigmas generally 2, generally plumose
Fruit: achene-like grain
Genera in family: 650–900 genera; ± 10,000 species: worldwide; greatest economic importance of any family (wheat, rice, maize, millet, sorghum, sugar cane, forage crops, ornamental, weeds; thatching, weaving, building materials)
Reference: [Hitchcock 1951 Manual grasses US, USDA Misc Publ 200; Clayton & Renvoise 1986 Kew Bull Add Series 13]
See Glossary p. 26 for illustrations of general family characteristics. Generally wind-pollinated.
Annual, perennial herb
Stems spreading to erect
Leaves generally cauline; ligule membranous, ± entire to jagged, sometimes ciliate; blade flat
Inflorescence panicle-like; branches spike-like; spikelets short-stalked or sessile
Spikelets compressed or ± cylindrical; glumes equal or unequal, 1(3)-veined, short-awned or not; axis breaking apart above glumes and between florets; florets generally 2–12; lemma back rounded or keeled, glabrous or hairy, 3-veined, tip obtuse or minutely 2-lobed, awn generally 0; stamens 2 or 3
Species in genus: 40 species: warm temp, tropical
Etymology: (Greek: slender grass, from slender inflorescence)
Reference: [McNeill 1979 Brittonia 31:399–404]
| Native |
Annual
Stems decumbent to erect, 1–10 dm, sometimes reddish or purple
Leaf: sheath papillate; ligule 1–2 mm, entire to jagged and hairy; blade 5–30 cm, 3–10 mm wide
Inflorescence 3–20 cm; branches generally ascending, lower 5–10 cm
Spikelet 1–2 mm, compressed; glumes 1–2 mm, ± equal, purplish; florets (2)3–4; lemma 1–2 mm, keeled, veins hairy, tip minutely 2-lobed, awn 0
Chromosomes: 2n=20
Ecology: Wet sites, drying ponds
Elevation: < 100 m.
Bioregional distribution: Sonoran Desert (Imperial Co.)
Distribution outside California: to s US, Mexico, S.America
Flowering time: Sep–Dec
Synonyms: Leptochloa filiformis (Pers.) P. Beauv