Panicum homblei

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped loosely. Basal innovations intravaginal. Culms erect; slender; 40–60 cm long; firm; 2–3 -noded. Culm-internodes unequal, the upper longer; terete; striate; distally glabrous. Culm-nodes pubescent. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths deciduous; longer than adjacent culm internode; glabrous on surface to pubescent; outer margin hairy. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blades 12–18 cm long; 2–5.5 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade surface glabrous to pubescent. Leaf-blade margins scabrous. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; embraced at base by subtending leaf.

Panicle open; oblong, or ovate; 12–18 cm long. Primary panicle branches ascending; 1 -nate; subdividing 3–4 times; rebranched near base; 6–9 cm long. Panicle branches flexuous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform; unequal; 4–8 mm long; tip discoid.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate, or ovate; dorsally compressed; acute; 2.5 mm long; falling entire; readily shedding fertile florets.

GLUMES Glumes similar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 1 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 male; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5 -veined; acute. Fertile lemma elliptic; dorsally compressed; 1.5 mm long; chartaceous; pallid; without keel. Lemma surface tuberculate (verruculose). Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute. Palea involute; chartaceous. Palea surface tuberculate (verruculose).

DISTRIBUTION Africa: west-central tropical.

NOTES Paniceae. Fl Agric Congo Belge 1998.

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