Panicum ephemerum

HABIT Annual. Culms erect; slender; 25–35 cm long. Lateral branches lacking. Ligule a ciliate membrane. Leaf-blades filiform; involute; 9–16 cm long; 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex abruptly acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; comprising 2–12 fertile spikelets.

Panicle open; oblong; 1.5–8 cm long; bearing few spikelets. Primary panicle branches appressed, or ascending.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; dorsally compressed; 3–3.5 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes similar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.5 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 acuminate.

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 oblong; dorsally compressed; 2.5–3 mm long; indurate; pallid; shiny; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex apiculate. Palea involute; indurate.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: southern tropical.

NOTES Paniceae. FZ.

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