Panicum hochstetteri

HABIT Perennial. Culms erect, or rambling; slender; 20–60 cm long. Ligule a ciliate membrane. Leaf-blades spreading, or reflexed; lanceolate; parallel-sided; 3–7(–12) cm long; 5–15 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation without cross veins, or with distinct cross veins. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pilose. Leaf-blade apex acute, or acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 4–6(–13) cm long. Panicle branches capillary.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; dorsally compressed; obtuse, or acute; 2–2.5(–3) mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes similar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblong, or ovate; 0.66 length of spikelet; membranous; dark green; without keels; 3(–5) -veined. Lower glume lateral veins ribbed. Lower glume surface glabrous, or pubescent. Lower glume apex obtuse, or acute. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; dark green; without keels; 7 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins ribbed. Upper glume surface glabrous, or pubescent. 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; 7 -veined; acute. Fertile lemma oblong; dorsally compressed; 1.5–2.5 mm long; indurate; pallid; shiny; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea involute; indurate.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: west tropical, west-central tropical, northeast tropical, and east tropical.

NOTES Paniceae. FTEA.

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