Panicum dorsense

HABIT Annual; mat forming; clumped loosely. Culms decumbent; slender; 10–35 cm long; rooting from lower nodes. Lateral branches ample. Ligule a ciliate membrane. Leaf-blade base cordate. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 0.8–2 cm long; 3–4 mm wide; firm. Leaf-blade surface pubescent. Leaf-blade margins ciliate. Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; elliptic; 3–5 cm long; bearing many spikelets. Primary panicle branches ascending. Panicle branches capillary.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; acute; 1.8–2 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 0.5–0.66 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 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; 5–7 -veined; acute. Fertile lemma oblong; dorsally compressed; 1.8–2 mm long; indurate; pallid, or grey; shiny; without keel. Lemma surface smooth. Lemma margins involute. Palea involute; indurate.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: northeast tropical.

NOTES Paniceae. Fl Eth 1997.

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