Panicum cervicatum

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 50–150 cm long. Ligule a ciliate membrane. Leaf-blades linear, or lanceolate; flat, or involute; 12–40 cm long; 7–18 mm wide; coriaceous; stiff. Leaf-blade surface ribbed; glabrous, or pilose. Leaf-blade margins cartilaginous. Leaf-blade apex pungent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong, or ovate; effuse; 30–50 cm long. Primary panicle branches ascending, or spreading. Panicle branches stiff.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; tilted on the pedicel; dorsally compressed; 7–9 mm long; falling entire; readily shedding fertile florets. Rhachilla internodes elongated between glumes. Floret callus elongated; 1–1.5 mm long; winged; with lateral wings.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma; gaping. Lower glume ovate; 0.5–0.66 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; (3–)5(–7) -veined. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 7–9 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; ovate; 0.9 length of spikelet; membranous; 7 -veined; acute. Fertile lemma oblong; dorsally compressed; 4.5–6 mm long; indurate; pallid; shiny; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea involute; indurate.

DISTRIBUTION South America: northern South America, Brazil, and southern South America.

NOTES Paniceae. Gr Bahia.

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