Panicum chaseae

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 40 cm long. Lateral branches lacking. Leaves mostly basal. Ligule a ciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 2–3 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 15–23 cm long; contracted about primary branches. Primary panicle branches 1–2 -nate; bearing spikelets almost to the base.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; 2.7–3.5 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.33 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 9 -veined. 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; 9 -veined; acute. Fertile lemma elliptic; dorsally compressed; 2–2.1 mm long; indurate; without keel; 7 -veined. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea involute; indurate.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil and southern South America.

NOTES Paniceae. Gr Uruguay 1995.

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