Panicum fonticola

HABIT Annual. Culms decumbent; 20–35 cm long. Leaf-sheaths mostly shorter than adjacent culm internode; glabrous on surface, or pilose. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.4 mm long; truncate. Leaf-blades spreading; lanceolate; 2–3.5 cm long; 2–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 2.5–6 cm long. Primary panicle branches ascending; 1 -nate. Panicle branches straight.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic, or obovate; dorsally compressed; acute; 1.3–1.4 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 0.5–0.66 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels. Upper glume surface pubescent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; puberulous; acute. Fertile lemma elliptic; dorsally compressed; 1 mm long; indurate; pallid; without keel. Lemma surface striate. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea involute; indurate.

DISTRIBUTION South America: northern South America.

NOTES Paniceae. Swallen 2004.

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