Panicum cinctum

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 20 cm long; 2–3 -noded. Lateral branches lacking. Leaves mostly basal. Ligule a ciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 3–8 cm long; 3–4 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade surface pilose; hairy on both sides; with tubercle-based hairs. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 2–4 cm long. Primary panicle branches profusely divided.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels ciliate; hairy at tip.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate, or ovate; dorsally compressed; 1.5–2 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; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex cuspidate. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5 -veined; acute. Fertile lemma oblong; dorsally compressed; 1.5–2 mm long; coriaceous; pallid; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acuminate. Palea involute; coriaceous.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: western Indian ocean.

NOTES Paniceae. Hack 1994.

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