Panicum furvum

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Culms erect; 10–21 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous, or pilose. Leaves mostly basal. Leaf-sheaths without keel; glabrous on surface. Ligule a ciliate membrane; 0.5 mm long. Leaf-blades 2–6.5 cm long; 2–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade margins tuberculate-ciliate; hairy at base.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 3.5–6 cm long. Primary panicle branches ascending; 3 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; 1.5–1.6 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma; gaping. Lower glume ovate; clasping; 1.3–1.5 mm long; 0.8–0.9 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5 -veined; acute. Fertile lemma elliptic; dorsally compressed; 1.6 mm long; indurate; dark brown; shiny; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute. Palea involute; indurate.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Mesoamericana.

NOTES Paniceae. Swallen 1995.

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