CHLORIDE/E 28l 



39. Leptochloa, Beauv. 



These are tall slender annual grasses. Spikelets are very small, 

 compressed, 1- to 6-flowered, sessile or shortly pedicelled, alternate 

 and unilateral on the branches of a panicle; the rachilla is pro- 

 duced between the flowering glumes, jointed at the base. There 

 are 3 to 8 glumes. The first two glumes are unequal, oblong or 

 lanceolate, i-nerved. The third and the succeeding ones are 

 broadly ovate, 3-nerved, paleate. Lodicules are two. Stamens 

 are three. Grain is subglobose, oblong or trigonous, closely invested 

 by the glume and its palea. 



36 



