Panicum bartlettii

HABIT Perennial. Culms rambling; 100–150 cm long; rooting from lower nodes. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface; outer margin hairy. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 0.2–0.3 mm long. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 10–20 cm long; 15–25 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pubescent. Leaf-blade margins scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; effuse; 10–30 cm long; 7–25 cm wide. Primary panicle branches ascending.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; dorsally compressed; 1.8–2 mm long; falling entire; readily shedding glumes.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.5 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels. 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; acute. Fertile lemma elliptic; dorsally compressed; 1.5 mm long; indurate; shiny; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Palea involute; indurate.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Mexico. South America: Mesoamericana.

NOTES Paniceae. Gr Yucatan 1994.

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