Panicum andringitrense

HABIT Perennial. Culms rambling; 300 cm long. Culm-internodes terete. Lateral branches ample. Leaf-sheaths smooth; puberulous. Ligule absent. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 3–5 cm long; 3–5 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade venation prominent. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade margins cartilaginous. Leaf-blade apex acute, or acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 4–5 cm long; 3–3.5 cm wide. Primary panicle branches ascending; 1–2 -nate. Panicle branches flexuous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 1.5–5 mm long; tip widened.

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

GLUMES Glumes similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate, or ovate; 1.3–1.4 mm long; 0.5 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume ovate; 2 mm long; 0.35 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; obovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5 -veined; acute. Fertile lemma ovate; dorsally compressed; 2.4 mm long; indurate; yellow; shiny; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 2.8–3 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: western Indian ocean.

NOTES Paniceae. Camus 1994.

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