Panicum bathiei

HABIT Perennial. Culms rambling; 300–400 cm long; woody (below), or firm (above). Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Lateral branches ample. Leaf-sheaths striately veined; glabrous on surface; outer margin hairy. Ligule a ciliate membrane. Leaf-blade base broadly rounded. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 12–14 cm long; 8–10 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pilose; hairy abaxially. Leaf-blade margins scaberulous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; effuse; 10–15 cm long. Primary panicle branches ascending. Panicle branches glabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform; 10–30 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets orbicular; dorsally compressed; 2.9–3 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes similar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 2.5 mm long; 0.8–0.9 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 7 -veined. Lower glume surface pilose. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 11 -veined. Upper glume surface hirsute. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 11 -veined; pubescent; obtuse. Palea of lower sterile floret 2–7 mm long. Fertile lemma ovate; dorsally compressed; 2 mm long; indurate; light brown; shiny; without keel. Lemma surface glabrous. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acuminate. Palea involute; indurate.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: western Indian ocean.

NOTES Paniceae. Camus 2003.

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