Panicum decaryanum

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 20–70 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Lateral branches lacking. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades filiform; involute; 5–15 cm long; 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous; hairless throughout, or except near base.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; effuse; 5–10 cm long. Primary panicle branches ascending; 1 -nate. Panicle branches capillary.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform; flexuous; 2–10 mm long; glabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate, or orbicular; dorsally compressed; subacute; 1.5–1.8 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.75–0.8 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Lower glume surface pubescent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume surface pubescent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male, or barren; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5 -veined; acute. Fertile lemma elliptic; dorsally compressed; 1–1.2 mm long; indurate; without keel. Lemma surface papillose. Lemma margins convolute. Palea involute; indurate.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: western Indian ocean.

NOTES Paniceae. Gr Madag 1997.

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