Panicum hemitomum

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes elongated. Stolons present. Butt sheaths pilose. Culms decumbent; 50–150 cm long. Ligule a ciliate membrane; 1 mm long. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 12–30 cm long; 7–15 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially; glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; 10–30 cm long; 1–1.5 cm wide; contracted about primary branches. Primary panicle branches appressed; 2–10 cm long; bearing spikelets almost to the base. Panicle branches bearded in axils.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; acute; 2–2.6 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.5 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scabrous. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5 -veined; acute. Palea of lower sterile floret 0.9 length of lemma. Fertile lemma elliptic; dorsally compressed; 1.8–2.4 mm long; cartilaginous; shiny; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute. Palea involute; cartilaginous.

DISTRIBUTION North America: northeast USA, 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.