Leptochloa viscida (Scribn.) Beal
Family: Poaceae, Tribe: Eragrostideae
Pertinent Synonyms & Notes (particularly those used in California; go to GRIN for other synonyms)
none
Pertinent Common Names (particularly those used in California; go to GRIN for other common names)
Sonoran sprangletop
Primary Disseminule Type
floret
Description (diagnostics are in brown)
Spikelets solitary, consisting of 2–7 fertile florets with similar-looking though diminished sterile florets at apex, oblong, laterally compressed to terete, 3–7.5 mm long, with green and frequently magenta coloring. Disarticulation below each fertile floret.
Glumes persistent, similar, shorter than spikelet, triangular to lanceolate, membranous, keeled, 1-veined, apices acute. Lower glume 1.6–2 mm long, 0.75 length of upper glume. Upper glume 2–2.9 mm long, 0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma.
Fertile florets: rachilla persistent, callus blunt, scar horizontal.
Lemma ovate or oblong, 1.5–3.5 mm long, membranous, somewhat transparent, whitish with light brown, green or magenta markings, ± sticky, with rounded back (no keel) but prominently ribbed midvein, 3-veined, lateral veins prominent and located close to margins, all veins pubescent, apex acute to obtuse, entire or bifid, awn subapical, 0.5–1.5 mm long.
Palea 0.9 length of lemma, 2-veined, keels minutely scabrous.
Caryopsis narrowly elliptic or oblong to obovate in outline, elliptic in cross-section, dorsally compressed, (0.8)1.2–1.6 mm long x 0.4–0.6 mm wide, dark brown, embryo ca. 0.67 length of caryopsis, hilum round, dark.
Similar Species
Similar Species Comparison Chart
Risk Assessment (codes in yellow or red indicate cause for concern; assessments are current as of mid-2011; click AUQP, NZBORIC, or NZBPI for access to the most recent versions of these databases and possible assessment changes)
AUQP, NZBORIC, NZBPI