Panicum acrotrichum

HABIT Perennial. Culms rambling; slender; 15–60 cm long; rooting from lower nodes. Leaf-sheaths narrower than blade at the collar. Ligule a ciliate membrane. Leaf-blade base broadly rounded. Leaf-blades spreading; lanceolate; 3–8 cm long; 8–23 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation with distinct cross veins. Leaf-blade surface pilose; sparsely hairy. Leaf-blade margins scaberulous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open, or contracted; oblong; 7–15 cm long. Primary panicle branches 1–2 -nate. Panicle branches capillary.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 2–2.5 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 0.33–0.5 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 1–3 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5–7 -veined. Upper glume surface pilose; hairy above; with an apical beard (up to 3mm long). Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5–7 -veined; acute. Fertile lemma oblong; dorsally compressed; 2 mm long; chartaceous; pallid; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute. Palea involute; chartaceous.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1.3 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: west-central tropical.

NOTES Paniceae. FTA.

Please cite this publication as detailed in How to Cite Version: 3rd February 2016.