Panicum biglandulare

HABIT Perennial. Glands sunken crateriform. Culms decumbent; 20–60 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Lateral branches ample. Leaf-sheaths pilose; with tubercle-based hairs. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 4–10 cm long; 10–18 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pilose; hairy on both sides. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes borne along a central axis; unilateral; 0.8–2 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 4–10 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; dorsally compressed; acute; 3.6 mm long; falling entire. Rhachilla internodes elongated below proximal fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.33 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume primary vein ciliate. Lower glume margins ciliate. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume oblong; 0.9 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 7 -veined. Upper glume surface hispidulous. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; glandular (2 glands); 5 -veined; hispidulous; ciliate on margins; acute. Palea of lower sterile floret 1 length of lemma; pubescent. Fertile lemma elliptic; dorsally compressed; 2.4 mm long; indurate; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute. Palea involute; indurate.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Mexico. South America: Mesoamericana.

NOTES Paniceae. Chase 1994.

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