Panicum capillarioides

HABIT Perennial. Rootstock evident. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 30–60 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous, or pubescent. Culm-nodes pubescent. Leaf-sheaths hirsute; outer margin glabrous, or hairy. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 1.5 mm long. Leaf-blades 20–50 cm long; 2–12 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade surface pilose; hairy on both sides; with tubercle-based hairs.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; exserted, or embraced at base by subtending leaf.

Panicle open; oblong; effuse; 10–30 cm long; bearing few spikelets; with spikelets clustered towards branch tips. Primary panicle branches ascending, or spreading. Panicle branches stiff; scabrous; pubescent in axils.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; acuminate; 5–6.5 mm long; 1–1.2 mm wide; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.33–0.5 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 7 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; lanceolate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 9 -veined; acuminate. Fertile lemma elliptic; dorsally compressed; 1.6–1.8 mm long; indurate; shiny; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute. Palea involute; indurate.

DISTRIBUTION North America: south-central USA and Mexico.

NOTES Paniceae. Gr Texas 1994.

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