Panicum gymnocarpum

HABIT Perennial; culms solitary. Stolons present. Culms decumbent; 60–100 cm long; rooting from lower nodes. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.6–1 mm long. Leaf-blade base cordate. Leaf-blades 8–30 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade margins scabrous; glabrous, or ciliate; hairy at base.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 15–40 cm long; contracted about primary branches. Primary panicle branches ascending; bearing spikelets almost to the base. Panicle branches stiff.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; acuminate; 5.5–7 mm long; falling entire. Floret callus evident.

GLUMES Glumes similar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 0.8–0.9 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex attenuate. Upper glume lanceolate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume apex attenuate.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; elliptic; 4.5–5.5 mm long; 0.8 length of spikelet; membranous; 5 -veined; acuminate. Palea of lower sterile floret 0.5 length of lemma. Fertile lemma obovate; dorsally compressed; 2 mm long; indurate; shiny; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea involute; indurate.

DISTRIBUTION North America: south-central USA and southeast USA.

NOTES Paniceae. Gr Texas 1994.

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