Panicum bresolinii

HABIT Perennial. Culms decumbent; robust; 85–100 cm long; rooting from lower nodes. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Culm-nodes bearded. Leaf-sheaths keeled; hirsute; with tubercle-based hairs; outer margin hairy. Leaf-sheath oral hairs bearded. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blade base cordate. Leaf-blades linear, or lanceolate; 13–26 cm long; 20–30 mm wide. Leaf-blade midrib prominent beneath. Leaf-blade surface hirsute; hairy on both sides; with tubercle-based hairs. Leaf-blade margins crenate; scabrous. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; pyramidal; effuse; 15–30 cm long; contracted about secondary branches. Primary panicle branches ascending; 1–3 -nate. Panicle branches secund.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 2–3 length of fertile spikelet; scabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; acute; 1.5–2 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.5 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scabrous. 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; 5 -veined; acute. Fertile lemma elliptic; dorsally compressed; 1.2–1.7 mm long; indurate; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Palea involute; indurate.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil.

NOTES Paniceae. Fl Cat 1995.

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