Panicum eligulatum

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Rootstock evident. Butt sheaths persistent and investing base of culm; with curly dead sheaths. Culms 50–75 cm long; with prop roots. Leaves mostly basal. Leaf-sheaths hirsute. Ligule absent. Leaf-blades flat, or involute; 20–30 cm long; 7–13 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; glabrous, or hirsute. Leaf-blade apex pungent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle. Peduncle 10–15 cm long; glabrous.

Panicle open; ovate, or pyramidal; 10–15 cm long. Primary panicle branches ascending; not whorled, or whorled at lower nodes. Panicle branches glabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; 2.7–3.3 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 1–1.5 mm long; 0.33–0.5 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex obtuse, or acute. Upper glume elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5–7 -veined. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5 -veined; acute. Fertile lemma ovate; dorsally compressed; 1.5–2 mm long; indurate; pallid; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acuminate. Palea involute; indurate.

DISTRIBUTION South America: northern South America.

NOTES Paniceae. Fl Guiana 1995.

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