Panicum brachyanthum

HABIT Annual. Culms decumbent; slender; 30–100 cm long; wiry. Leaf-sheaths outer margin hairy. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 5–15 cm long; 1–3 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 5–15 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; acute; 3.2–4 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.4–0.5 mm long; 0.15 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume surface hispid; with tubercle-based hairs. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5 -veined; hispid; with tubercle-based hairs; acute. Fertile lemma oblong; dorsally compressed; 3–3.5 mm long; indurate; shiny; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute. Palea involute; indurate.

DISTRIBUTION North America: north-central USA, south-central USA, and southeast USA.

NOTES Paniceae. Gr Texas 1994.

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