Panicum bombycinum

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 15–35 cm long; 2–4 -noded. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths longer than adjacent culm internode; without keel; pubescent. Ligule a ciliate membrane; 1.5 mm long. Leaf-blades flat, or involute; 9–21 cm long; 2–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pubescent; densely hairy. Leaf-blade margins scaberulous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 6–12 cm long. Primary panicle branches spreading; 3–6 cm long; bearing 3–5 fertile spikelets on each lower branch. Panicle axis scabrous; bearing deciduous branches. Panicle branches scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels angular; 5–20 mm long; scabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; dorsally compressed; 3–3.5 mm long; 1–1.5 mm wide; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 1.7–2 mm long; 0.5–0.6 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5–7 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 9–11 -veined. 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; acuminate. Fertile lemma elliptic; dorsally compressed; 2–2.3 mm long; indurate; light brown; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1.5 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Paniceae. Simon 1995.

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