Panicum aequinerve

HABIT Annual, or perennial; short-lived. Culms rambling; slender; 15–70(–100) cm long; rooting from lower nodes. Ligule a ciliate membrane. Leaf-blades lanceolate; parallel-sided; 3–11 cm long; 3–10(–12) mm wide; membranous. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pilose. Leaf-blade apex acute, or acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 4–16(–22) cm long. Primary panicle branches spreading.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; dorsally compressed; acuminate; 2.5–3.5 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes similar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; dark green (olive); without keels; 5(–7) -veined. Lower glume lateral veins ribbed. Lower glume surface pubescent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; dark green (olive); without keels; 7 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins ribbed. Upper glume surface pubescent. 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 -veined; ribbed; pubescent; acute. Fertile lemma oblong; dorsally compressed; 2–3 mm long; indurate; pallid; shiny; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea involute; indurate.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: west-central tropical, northeast tropical, east tropical, southern tropical, south, and western Indian ocean.

NOTES Paniceae. FTEA.

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