Panicum grande

HABIT Perennial. Stolons absent, or present. Culms decumbent; robust; 200–400 cm long; 10–15 mm diam.; rooting from lower nodes. Culm-nodes pubescent. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 1–2.5 mm long. Leaf-blades elliptic; 35–75 cm long; 30–50 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade margins scabrous. Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; pyramidal; 55–70 cm long; 25–40 cm wide; contracted about secondary branches. Primary panicle branches ascending, or spreading; whorled at most nodes.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; dorsally compressed; acute; 2.5–2.9 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 1.6–2 mm long; 0.66 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 2–2.5 mm long; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; ovate; 2–2.5 mm long; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5 -veined; acute. Fertile lemma elliptic; dorsally compressed; 1.5–1.8 mm long; indurate; shiny; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.7–1.1 mm long; purple.

FRUIT Caryopsis ellipsoid, or oblong; 0.9–1.1 mm long; grey.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Mesoamericana, Caribbean, northern South America, western South America, and Brazil.

NOTES Paniceae. Fl Costa Rica 1994.

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