Panicum chapadense

HABIT Perennial. Butt sheaths papery; pubescent. Culms erect; 50–150 cm long; not swollen at the base, or swollen at the base; forming moniliform corms. Ligule a ciliate membrane; 0.1–0.2 mm long. Leaf-blade base cordate. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 10–25 cm long; 15–30 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pubescent. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes numerous; borne along a central axis; unilateral; 1–7 cm long. Central inflorescence axis (4–)9–32 cm long. Rhachis angular; scabrous on surface; with scattered hairs. Spikelet packing irregular.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled; 2 in the cluster. Pedicels 0.3–0.9 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; dorsally compressed; 2.5–3 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.5 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume margins eciliate, or ciliate. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; glandular (2–6 glands at tip); 7 -veined; ciliate on margins (above); acute. Fertile lemma elliptic; dorsally compressed; 1.5–1.7 mm long; coriaceous; pallid; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea involute; coriaceous.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil.

NOTES Paniceae. Gr Bahia.

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