Panicum cordovense

HABIT Perennial. Culms decumbent; 25 cm long; rooting from lower nodes. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Lateral branches ample. Leaves cauline. Leaf-sheaths mostly shorter than adjacent culm internode; outer margin hairy. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate. Ligule a ciliate membrane. Leaf-blade base broadly rounded. Leaf-blades spreading; lanceolate; 5–7 cm long; 10–12 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade midrib evident. Leaf-blade venation distinct. Leaf-blade margins scabrous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; obovate; 6–12 cm long; 3–7 cm wide; contracted about secondary branches. Primary panicle branches spreading; 1–2 -nate. Panicle branches scaberulous.

Spikelets solitary, or in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; plano-convex; acute; 3–5 mm long; 1.5 mm wide; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 0.66 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume surface puberulous. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume surface puberulous. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5 -veined; puberulous; acute. Fertile lemma lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 3–5 mm long; indurate; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex mucronate. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.3–0.4 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Mexico. South America: Mesoamericana, northern South America, western South America, Brazil, and southern South America.

NOTES Paniceae. Hackel 1997.

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