Panicum calvum

HABIT Perennial. Culms rambling; slender; 20–150 cm long; rooting from lower nodes. Ligule a ciliate membrane. Leaf-blade base cordate. Leaf-blades lanceolate, or ovate; 6–12 cm long; 5–25 mm wide; membranous. Leaf-blade venation without cross veins, or with distinct cross veins. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pilose. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong, or pyramidal; (10–)15–20(–30) cm long. Primary panicle branches spreading. Panicle branches capillary.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; dorsally compressed; 2–2.5 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes similar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 0.33–0.66 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 1–3 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; (5–)7 -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; 5 -veined; acute. Fertile lemma oblong; dorsally compressed; 1.5–2 mm long; indurate; pallid; shiny; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea involute; indurate.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: west tropical, west-central tropical, northeast tropical, and east tropical.

NOTES Paniceae. FTEA.

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