Panicum cynodon

HABIT Perennial; mat forming, or caespitose; clumped densely. Culms decumbent; 5–30 cm long. Lateral branches ample. Leaves distichous. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface, or hispid. Ligule a ciliate membrane; 0.5–1 mm long. Leaf-blades spreading; linear, or lanceolate; 1–5 cm long; 1–4 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or puberulous. Leaf-blade margins glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; linear, or lanceolate; 1–3 cm long; bearing few spikelets. Primary panicle branches appressed, or ascending; simple. Panicle branches glabrous, or pubescent, or pilose.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic, or oblong; dorsally compressed; 2–2.5 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.33–0.66 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 7–9 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 7 -veined; acute. Palea of lower sterile floret 0.5 length of lemma. Fertile lemma elliptic; dorsally compressed; 2 mm long; indurate; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Pacific: north-central.

NOTES Paniceae. Hitchcock 1993.

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