Panicum aldabrense

HABIT Perennial. Stolons present. Culms weak; 1–5 cm long. Leaves distichous. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface, or pilose. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 0.5–1 mm long. Leaf-blades flat, or conduplicate, or involute; 1–2 cm long; 1–1.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pilose; sparsely hairy.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; embraced at base by subtending leaf.

Panicle open; ovate; 0.5–1 cm long; 0.3–0.5 cm wide; bearing few spikelets. Panicle branches pilose.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; dorsally compressed; subacute; 1–1.3 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma; gaping. Lower glume ovate; 0.5–1 mm long; 0.66–1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute; muticous, or mucronate. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. 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; obtuse. Fertile lemma obovate; dorsally compressed; 1 mm long; indurate; pallid, or yellow; without keel. Lemma margins convolute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 0.5–0.6 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: western Indian ocean.

NOTES Paniceae. Renvoize 1997.

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