Panicum hispidifolium

HABIT Annual. Culms 50 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous, or hispid. Leaf-sheaths hispid; with tubercle-based hairs. Ligule a ciliate membrane; 2–3 mm long. Leaf-blades 15 cm long; 8 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface hispid; with tubercle-based hairs. Leaf-blade margins scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; terminal and axillary. Peduncle hispid above.

Panicle open; ovate; 23 cm long; 15 cm wide. Primary panicle branches appressed. Panicle branches stiff; scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 2–8 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; dorsally compressed; 3.5–3.6 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma; gaping. Lower glume ovate; 2–2.2 mm long; 0.6–0.7 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5–7 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5–7 -veined; acute. Fertile lemma elliptic, or ovate; dorsally compressed; 2.3–2.4 mm long; indurate; pallid; shiny; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea involute; indurate.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Mexico. South America: Mesoamericana and northern South America.

NOTES Paniceae. Swallen 1995.

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