Panicum bergii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 30–60 cm long. Culm-nodes purple; bearded. Leaf-sheaths hirsute. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blades 10–37 cm long; 1–6 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface hirsute; hairy on both sides. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; deciduous as a whole. Peduncle fracturing.

Panicle open; pyramidal; effuse; 10–20 cm long; 0.33 of culm length. Primary panicle branches spreading; whorled at lower nodes; branching divaricately. Panicle branches bearded in axils.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; dorsally compressed; acute; 2.5–2.8 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.33–0.5 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 7 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 7 -veined; acute. Fertile lemma ovate; dorsally compressed; 1.5–1.8 mm long; indurate; pallid, or grey; shiny; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER Anthers purple.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ovoid; 1.1–1.2 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION South America: northern South America, western South America, Brazil, and southern South America.

NOTES Paniceae. Fl Pat 1995.

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