Panicum beyeri

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Culms geniculately ascending, or decumbent; slender; 50–130 cm long; wiry. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule a ciliate membrane; 0.5 mm long. Leaf-blades flat, or involute; 20–40 cm long; 0.5–1.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; linear; 20–35 cm long; bearing few spikelets. Primary panicle branches appressed; distant; simple; 0.5–1.5 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels puberulous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; tilted on the pedicel; dorsally compressed; acute; 3 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma; parallel to lemmas, or gaping. Lower glume ovate; 1 mm long; 0.33 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. 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; 5 -veined; obtuse. Fertile lemma elliptic; dorsally compressed; 2.5 mm long; indurate; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins obscure. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute; scabrous. Palea involute; indurate.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Caribbean.

NOTES Paniceae. Man Gr WI 1995.

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