Panicum bambusiculme

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes elongated. Culms rambling, or scandent; 100–200 cm long; woody. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Lateral branches ample. Leaf-sheaths tight; 3.5–4.5 cm long; striately veined; pilose. Ligule a ciliate membrane; 0.5–1 mm long. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 9.5–22 cm long; 19–34 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade midrib conspicuous. Leaf-blade venation with 6–10 secondary veins; with obscure cross veins. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; globose; effuse; 22–32 cm long. Primary panicle branches spreading. Panicle branches stiff; smooth.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform; 30–60 mm long; smooth.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; dorsally compressed; obtuse; 2.5–3 mm long; 1.4–2 mm wide; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes similar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 2.5–3 mm long; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 9 -veined. Lower glume surface puberulous. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume ovate; 2–2.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 9 -veined. Upper glume surface pubescent. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; ovate; 2 mm long; 0.75 length of spikelet; membranous; 3–5 -veined; pubescent; obtuse. Fertile lemma ovate; dorsally compressed; 2.5 mm long; indurate; dark brown; shiny; without keel. Lemma surface smooth. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex pubescent. Palea involute; indurate.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: northeast tropical.

NOTES Paniceae. Fries & Voll. 2001.

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