Panicum glabripes

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short. Culms erect; robust; 70–130 cm long; 2–2.5 mm diam. Leaves mostly basal. Leaf-sheaths 11–25 cm long. Ligule a ciliate membrane; 1–1.3 mm long. Leaf-blades involute; 25–45 cm long; 4–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pilose; hairy adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 20–26 cm long. Primary panicle branches profusely divided.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels ciliate; hairy at tip.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; dorsally compressed; 2–3.5 mm long; 1.5 mm wide; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes 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; 5 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5 -veined; acute. Fertile lemma elliptic; dorsally compressed; 1–1.5 mm long; indurate; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Palea involute; indurate.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil and southern South America.

NOTES Paniceae. Fl Cat 1995.

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