G.071. Leptaspis R. Br.

Description of the genus

Perennial rhizomatous herbs with large broad dark green leaves, with typical slanting venation, borne on a twisted (180 degrees) pseudopetiole. Inflorescence a loose panicle with female spiklets in a group at the base and males terminal on the branchlets. Spikelets 1-flowered, unisexual. Male spikelets less conspicuous than female with 2 small, membranous, ovate glumes and a lemma similar to the glumes. Female spikelets with 2 short glumes; lemma with connate margins, utricle-like, inflated, prominently ribbed, covered with hooked hairs and (in ours) white. Stigmas 3. Caryopsis oblong, flattened.

An extraordinary-looking plant which is not particularly grass-like at first glance.

Worldwide: 5 species in the Old World tropics

Zimbabwe: 1 taxon.

Leptaspis zeylanica

Links to taxa:     View: living plant images - herbarium specimen images - all images for this genus

SpeciesFZ divisionsContent
zeylanica Nees ex Steud.EDescription, Image

Other sources of information about Leptaspis:

Our websites:

Flora of Mozambique: Leptaspis

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Leptaspis
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Leptaspis
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Leptaspis
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Leptaspis
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Leptaspis
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Leptaspis
JSTOR Plant Science: Leptaspis
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Leptaspis
Plants of the World Online: Leptaspis
Tropicos: Leptaspis
Wikipedia: Leptaspis

Copyright: Mark Hyde, Bart Wursten, Petra Ballings and Meg Coates Palgrave, 2002-24

Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T., Ballings, P. & Coates Palgrave, M. (2024). Flora of Zimbabwe: Genus page: Leptaspis.
https://www.zimbabweflora.co.zw/speciesdata/genus.php?genus_id=116, retrieved 16 April 2024

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