Leersia oryzoides*

Leersia oryzoides* (L.) Sw. Nov. Gen. Sp. Pl. Prodr. 21 (1788).

Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Ehrhartoideae. Tribe Oryzeae.

Basionym and/or
Replacement Name:
 Phalaris
oryzoides
L., Sp. Pl.
1: 55 (1753).

Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information
: LT: Clayton s.n., USA:
Virginia,
"5. oryzoides" (LINN-78.10). LT designated by Hitchcock, Contr.
U.S. Natl. Herb
. 12: 115 (1908).

Key references
(books and floras):
[2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of
Australia
,
[2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Walley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South
Wales
(292), [2009] A.Wilson (ed.). Flora of Australia, Vol 44A. Poaceae 2
(361).

Illustrations:
[2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Whalley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South
Wales
, 4th edn (292).

Habit.
Perennial. Rhizomes present, elongated. Culms erect or geniculately ascending
or decumbent, 30–150 cm tall. Mid-culm nodes pubescent. Lateral branches
branched. Ligule an eciliate membrane, 0.5–1.5 mm long, truncate. Leaf-blades
3–30 cm long, 3–10 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous.

Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, a panicle. Panicle elliptic or oblong, 10–22 cm long,
5–14 cm wide.

Spikelets.
Spikelets pedicelled. Fertile spikelets 1-flowered, comprising 1 fertile
floret(s), without rachilla extension, elliptic, laterally compressed, 4–8 mm
long.

Florets.
Fertile lemma 4–8 mm long, keeled, 5 -nerved. Lemma apex mucronate. Palea
present, 3 -nerved, 1-keeled. Palea apex entire. Lodicules present. Anthers
2–3.

Continental
Distribution
: Europe, Africa, Temperate Asia, Tropical Asia, Australasia,
and North America.

Australian Distribution:
New South Wales, Victoria.

New South Wales: South-Western
Plains. Victoria: Gippsland Plain, Midlands.

Notes.
Introduced. Native of North America, Europe and Japan. At the edge of streams
subject to seasonal inundation; a weed. Flowers Mar.

AVH 2011

Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith