Panicum bahiense

HABIT Perennial. Culms 100 cm long. Leaves without demarcation between sheath and blade. Leaf-sheaths hirsute. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5 mm long. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 18–40 cm long; 8–12 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade surface pubescent. Leaf-blade apex pungent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong; 15–30 cm long; 6–12 cm wide. Primary panicle branches ascending; profusely divided. Panicle branches with scattered hairs.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; dorsally compressed; obtuse; 1.5 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.5–0.66 length of spikelet; membranous; pallid; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; pallid; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; purple; 5 -veined; acute. Fertile lemma elliptic; dorsally compressed; 1.5 mm long; indurate; pallid; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Palea involute; indurate.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil.

NOTES Paniceae. Gr Bahia 1995.

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