Panicum flacciflorum

HABIT Annual. Culms 10–60(–90) cm long. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blade base cordate. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 3.5–10.5 cm long; 4–11 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pilose; with simple hairs and clavellate hairs. Leaf-blade apex abruptly acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong; 3–9(–18) cm long. Panicle branches capillary; pilose; with clavellate hairs.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; dorsally compressed; 3–4 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes similar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.33–0.5 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 9 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins with cross-veins. Lower glume apex truncate, or obtuse. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; yellow; without keels; 9 -veined. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; oblong; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 9 -veined; acute. Palea of lower sterile floret pilose. Fertile lemma oblong; dorsally compressed; 3.5 mm long; chartaceous; pallid; without keel; 9 -veined. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute; pubescent. Palea involute; chartaceous.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1 mm long.

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.