Panicum eickii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes elongated. Culms erect; slender; 5–30 cm long. Leaf-sheaths striately veined; outer margin glabrous, or hairy. Ligule a ciliate membrane. Leaf-blades appressed; tapering towards sheath, or parallel-sided; 1–2(–7) cm long; 1–2(–4) mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pilose. Leaf-blade apex abruptly acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; oblong; 1–2(–4) cm long. Panicle branches glabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong, or ovate; dorsally compressed; obtuse; 2–3 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes similar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume orbicular; 0.75–1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; (3–)5(–7) -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 7 -veined. Upper glume apex acute, or acuminate.

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; 1.5–2 mm long; indurate; pallid; shiny; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea involute; indurate.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: west-central tropical, east tropical, and southern tropical.

NOTES Paniceae. FTEA.

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