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Oryza minuta Presl
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Derivation
Oryza L., Sp. Pl. 333 (1753); Latinized from the Arabic uruz
(rice), whence Greek oruza (rice) is also derived.
minuta- Latin for very small. Smaller than usual in some respect.
Published in
Reliq. Haenk.1: 208 (1830).
Habit
Perennial, tufted. Stolons present. Culms geniculately ascending or decumbent,
50200(300) cm tall. Leaf-sheaths smooth, glabrous on surface. Leaf-sheath
auricles absent. Ligule an eciliate membrane, 5 mm long, erose, truncate or
obtuse. Leaf-blades 1580 cm long, 723 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface
scaberulous, glabrous. Leaf-blade margins scabrous.
Inflorescence
Inflorescence compound, a panicle, comprising 620 fertile spikelets. Panicle
open, ovate, 7.542 cm long. Primary panicle branches drooping, whorled
at lower nodes, simple, 1015 cm long. Panicle branches scaberulous.
Spikelets
Spikelets solitary. Pedicels linear, angular, scabrous. Fertile spikelets at
least 3-flowered, comprising 1 fertile floret, without rhachilla extension,
elliptic or ovate, laterally compressed, 3.76.4 mm long, 2.5 mm wide,
falling entire.
Glumes
Glumes two. Lower glume 0.10.2 mm long. Upper glume 0.10.2 mm long.
Florets
Basal sterile florets 2 or more, similar, without significant palea. Lemma of
lower sterile floret lanceolate, 11.5 mm long, 10% of length of spikelet,
1-nerved, scaberulous, acute or acuminate. Fertile lemma oblong or orbicular,
laterally compressed, oblong in profile, 3.76.2 mm long, coriaceous, dark
brown or black, 5-nerved, several-nerved. Lemma midnerve spinulose. Lemma lateral
nerves prominent. Lemma surface scabrous and reticulate. Lemma margins interlocking
with palea margins. Lemma apex 1-awned. Median (principal) awn flat below, 318
mm long overall, 423 mm long. Palea elliptic, 3.65.1 mm long, coriaceous,
3-nerved, 1-keeled. Palea keels spinulose. Palea surface scaberulous. Palea
apex acute, awned. Palea awns 1 mm long. Lodicules 2, elliptic or obovate, membranous.
Anthers 6, 1.42.8 mm long. Stigmas 2, purple. Grain with adherent pericarp,
ellipsoid, laterally compressed, 2.34.4 mm long. Disseminule comprising
a floret.
Continental Distribution:
Tropical Asia, Australasia.
Australian Distribution:
Northern Territory, Queensland.
Northern Territory: Darwin & Gulf. Queensland: Cook.
Classification. (GPWG
2001):
Ehrhartoideae: Oryzeae
Notes
Native (?). SE Asia, India to New Guinea (Sri Lanka, Burma, Thailand, Cambodia,
S Vietnam, Malesia). Flowers May.
Inflorescence and detail of inflorescence (scanned specimen)
© Queensland Herbarium
by Will Smith