Panicum hallii

HABIT Perennial. Butt sheaths persistent and investing base of culm; with curly dead sheaths. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 20–80 cm long. Culm-internodes glaucous. Culm-nodes glabrous, or pubescent. Leaves mostly basal. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface, or hirsute; with tubercle-based hairs. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 1–1.5 mm long. Leaf-blades 4–30 cm long; 2–10 mm wide; stiff; glaucous. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or hirsute; sparsely hairy; with tubercle-based hairs.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; pyramidal; 6–20 cm long. Primary panicle branches ascending. Panicle branches stiff.

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, or acuminate; 2.2–3.7(–3.9) mm long; 1–1.5 mm wide; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.33–0.66 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; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5 -veined; acute. Fertile lemma elliptic, or ovate; dorsally compressed; 2–3.5 mm long; indurate; dark brown; shiny; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Palea involute; indurate.

DISTRIBUTION North America: northwest USA, north-central USA, southwest USA, south-central USA, southeast USA, and Mexico.

NOTES Paniceae. Gr Texas 1994.

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