Panicum assumptionis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Stolons present. Culms decumbent; 7–12 cm long; 0.5–0.75 mm diam.; wiry. Ligule a ciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 2–5 cm long; 1.5–3 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Synflorescence compound; fasciculate. Inflorescence a panicle; comprising 3–8 fertile spikelets; terminal and axillary; subtended by a spatheole; enclosed. Spatheole lanceolate; 1–1.5 cm long.

Panicle open; linear, or oblong; 0.5–1 cm long; bearing few spikelets. Primary panicle branches indistinct the panicle almost racemose, or simple.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

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

GLUMES Glumes reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; clasping; 0.5 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. 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; acute. Fertile lemma elliptic; dorsally compressed; 1–1.3 mm long; indurate; light brown; without keel. Lemma margins convolute. Palea involute; indurate.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: western Indian ocean.

NOTES Paniceae. Fl Aldabra 1997.

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