Panicum habrothrix

HABIT Annual. Culms erect; 12–60 cm long. Ligule a ciliate membrane. Leaf-blade base cordate. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 1.5–4.5 cm long; 4–15 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; elliptic; 3–8 cm long. Panicle branches pilose; with clavellate hairs.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels ciliate; hairy at tip (exceeding spikelet).

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; dorsally compressed; 2–2.2 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes similar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.5 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 9 -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; 9 -veined; acute. Fertile lemma oblong; dorsally compressed; 2–2.2 mm long; indurate; pallid; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse; pubescent. Palea involute; indurate.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: west-central tropical and southern tropical.

NOTES Paniceae. FZ.

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