Panicum deustum

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short. Culms 70–200 cm long. Ligule a ciliate membrane. Leaf-blade base simple, or broadly rounded. Leaf-blades linear, or lanceolate; 15–48 cm long; 5–35(–40) mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pilose. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle. Peduncle glabrous, or pilose above (clavellately).

Panicle open; oblong, or ovate; 10–40 cm long; with spikelets clumped along branches. Primary panicle branches ascending, or spreading. Panicle branches stiff; scaberulous; glabrous (rarely), or pilose; with clavellate hairs.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; dorsally compressed; obtuse; 3.5–5(–5.5) mm long; falling entire. Rhachilla internodes elongated between glumes.

GLUMES Glumes similar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.5–0.66 length of spikelet; herbaceous; without keels; 5–7 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; herbaceous; without keels; 7 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

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; 3.5–5(–5.5) mm long; indurate; pallid; dull, or shiny; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 3–3.5 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: west-central tropical, northeast tropical, east tropical, southern tropical, and south. Asia-temperate: western Asia. South America: Brazil.

NOTES Paniceae. FTEA.

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