Panicum elephantipes

HABIT Perennial. Culms 80–160 cm long; 10 mm diam.; rooting from lower nodes. Culm-nodes constricted; purple; glabrous. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 2–3 mm long. Leaf-blade base broadly rounded. Leaf-blades 30–54 cm long; 11–20 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; dense; 15–30 cm long. Primary panicle branches ascending. Panicle branches scabrous.

Spikelets appressed; in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; dorsally compressed; acuminate; 3.8–4.2 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 1–1.2 mm long; 0.25 length of spikelet; hyaline; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins obscure. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 3.8–4.7 mm long; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5–7 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; ovate; 3.8–4.7 mm long; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5–7 -veined; acute. Fertile lemma ovate; dorsally compressed; 3.5 mm long; coriaceous; shiny; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acuminate. Palea involute; coriaceous.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1.6–1.8 mm long; orange.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Mexico. South America: Mesoamericana, Caribbean, northern South America, western South America, Brazil, and southern South America.

NOTES Paniceae. Fl Costa Rica 1994.

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