Panicum dichotomiflorum

HABIT Annual. Culms geniculately ascending, or decumbent; 100–200 cm long. Culm-nodes glabrous. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule a ciliate membrane; 2 mm long. Leaf-blades 12–50 cm long; 3–12(–20) mm wide. Leaf-blade midrib conspicuous. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or puberulous; hairy adaxially. Leaf-blade margins scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; terminal and axillary; embraced at base by subtending leaf.

Panicle open; ovate; 12–40 cm long. Primary panicle branches ascending. Panicle axis smooth, or scabrous. Panicle branches stiff.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; dorsally compressed; 2.4–3 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.2–0.25 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Lower glume apex truncate, or obtuse. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 7 -veined. 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; 7 -veined; acute. Fertile lemma elliptic; dorsally compressed; 2.4–3 mm long; indurate; shiny; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: southwestern and southeastern. Asia-temperate: Caucasus, China, and eastern Asia. Australasia: New Zealand. North America: eastern Canada, northwest USA, north-central USA, northeast USA, southwest USA, south-central USA, southeast USA, and Mexico. South America: Mesoamericana, Caribbean, northern South America, western South America, Brazil, and southern South America.

NOTES Paniceae. Gr Texas 1993.

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