Panicum divergens

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rootstock evident. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 40–75 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Culm-nodes glabrous. Lateral branches fastigiate; arising from mid culm. Leaves basal and cauline; heterophyllous with a basal winter rosette. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface; outer margin hairy. Ligule a fringe of hairs, or absent; 0–1 mm long. Leaf-blade base cordate; symmetrical. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 6–9 cm long; 9–25 mm wide; flaccid. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade margins ciliate; hairy at base.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; terminal and axillary.

Panicle open; ovate; 6–12 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; with obtuse base; dorsally compressed; subacute; 2.4–3.3 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 1 mm long; 0.25–0.33 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume oblong; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 7 -veined. Upper glume surface glabrous, or puberulous. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; oblong; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 7 -veined; glabrous, or puberulous; obtuse. Fertile lemma oblong; dorsally compressed; 2.4–3.3 mm long; indurate; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea involute; indurate.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION North America: north-central USA, northeast USA, south-central USA, southeast USA, and Mexico. South America: Mesoamericana and Caribbean.

NOTES Paniceae. Gr Texas 1994.

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