Panicum chionachne

HABIT Annual, or perennial; short-lived. Culms decumbent; slender; 35–100 cm long. Ligule a ciliate membrane. Leaf-blades lanceolate; parallel-sided; 5–10(–20) cm long; 5–10 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation without cross veins. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pilose. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong, or ovate; 10–22 cm long. Primary panicle branches ascending, or spreading.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; dorsally compressed; acute, or acuminate; 2–3 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes similar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 0.75–1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins ribbed. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5(–7) -veined. Upper glume lateral veins ribbed. Upper glume apex acute, or acuminate.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5 -veined; ribbed; acute, or acuminate. Fertile lemma oblong; dorsally compressed; 1.5–2.5 mm long; indurate; pallid; shiny; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea involute; indurate.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: west-central tropical, east tropical, and southern tropical.

NOTES Paniceae. FTEA.

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