Panicum filifolium

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms slender; 18–35 cm long. Ligule a ciliate membrane; 0.5 mm long. Leaf-blades filiform; involute; 4–15 cm long; 0.5 mm wide; stiff, or firm.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong, or ovate; 3–10 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; dorsally compressed; acute; 1.3–1.5 mm long; falling entire; readily shedding fertile florets.

GLUMES Glumes similar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.66–0.75 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume surface glabrous, or pubescent; with tubercle-based hairs. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume surface glabrous, or pubescent; with tubercle-based hairs. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; oblong; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5 -veined; glabrous, or pubescent; with tubercle-based hairs; obtuse. Palea of lower sterile floret 1 length of lemma. Fertile lemma oblong; dorsally compressed; 0.8–1 mm long; chartaceous; pallid; without keel. Lemma surface tuberculate (verruculose). Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea involute; chartaceous. Palea surface tuberculate (verruculose).

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: west tropical and east tropical.

NOTES Paniceae. FTEA.

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