Panicum chillagoanum

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Culms erect; 15–60 cm long; 2–3 -noded. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths longer than adjacent culm internode. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate. Ligule a ciliate membrane; 1 mm long. Leaf-blades 2–12 cm long; 2–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pilose; sparsely hairy; with tubercle-based hairs. Leaf-blade margins scaberulous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 4–25 cm long. Primary panicle branches spreading; 3–14 cm long; bearing 15–20 fertile spikelets on each lower branch. Panicle axis smooth. Panicle branches scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels angular; 3–12 mm long; scabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 2.1–2.7 mm long; 0.8–1 mm wide; falling entire. Rhachilla internodes elongated between glumes.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.9–1.2 mm long; 0.4–0.5 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; acuminate. Fertile lemma oblong; dorsally compressed; 1.5 mm long; indurate; light brown; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1.5 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Paniceae. Simon 1995.

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