Panicum assurgens

HABIT Perennial. Culms arching; 100–200 cm long. Culm-internodes 4–10 cm long; distally glabrous. Culm-nodes constricted; glabrous. Leaf-sheaths 3–7 cm long; striately veined; hispid; outer margin hairy. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 0.3 mm long. Leaf-blades linear, or lanceolate; 8–12 cm long; 7–10 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface hispid; sparsely hairy. Leaf-blade margins scabrous. Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; effuse; 12–15 cm long; 7–10 cm wide. Primary panicle branches whorled at lower nodes. Panicle branches flexuous; eglandular; glabrous; glabrous in axils.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels glabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; 3.3 mm long; 1.2 mm wide; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate, or ovate; not clasping; 2.1–2.7 mm long; 0.75–0.8 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins transversely connected at apex. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic; 0.8 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 9 -veined. Upper glume surface glabrous to pubescent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 9 -veined; glabrous, or pubescent; acute. Palea of lower sterile floret 0.66 length of lemma. Fertile lemma elliptic; dorsally compressed; 2.7 mm long; 1 mm wide; indurate; without keel. Lemma surface papillose. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute; pubescent. Palea involute; indurate.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid; 2.1 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil.

NOTES Paniceae. Zuloaga 1994.

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