Panicum caparaoense

HABIT Perennial. Culm-nodes constricted; black; glabrous. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface; outer margin hairy. Ligule a ciliate membrane; 0.8 mm long. Collar pubescent. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 14–21 cm long; 10 mm wide; purple. Leaf-blade surface pubescent; sparsely hairy; hairy adaxially. Leaf-blade margins scabrous. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle. Peduncle 22 cm long; glabrous.

Panicle open; ovate; 23 cm long; 20 cm wide. Panicle axis glabrous. Panicle branches smooth; glabrous in axils.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; 5.9–6.5 mm long; falling entire. Rhachilla internodes elongated between glumes.

GLUMES Glumes similar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 4.1 mm long; 0.66 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 13–15 -veined. Upper glume surface asperulous; rough above. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 13–15 -veined; scaberulous; rough above; acute. Palea of lower sterile floret 0.8–1 length of lemma; pilose; adorned on flanks. Fertile lemma elliptic; dorsally compressed; 5.2 mm long; 1.6 mm wide; indurate; shiny; without keel; 9 -veined. Lemma surface smooth. Lemma margins involute; ciliate; hairy above. Lemma apex acute; with a little green crest. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 3 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil.

NOTES Paniceae. Zuloaga 1994.

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