Panicum humile

HABIT Annual. Culms erect; slender; 18–70(–90) cm long. Leaf-sheaths outer margin glabrous, or hairy. Ligule a ciliate membrane. Leaf-blades tapering towards sheath; 7–20 cm long; 2–6 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade apex acute, or acuminate.

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

Panicle open; oblong, or ovate; 5–15(–23) cm long. Primary panicle branches ascending, or spreading. Panicle branches straight, or flexuous; scaberulous; glabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; dorsally compressed; 1.5–2 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes similar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma; gaping. Lower glume ovate; 0.5–0.75 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 1–3 -veined. Lower glume apex acuminate; muticous, or mucronate. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 3(–5) -veined; acuminate. Fertile lemma oblong; dorsally compressed; 1–1.5 mm long; indurate; pallid; shiny; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea involute; indurate.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: west tropical, west-central tropical, east tropical, southern tropical, and western Indian ocean. Asia-temperate: China and eastern Asia. Asia-tropical: India, Indo-China, and Malesia.

NOTES Paniceae. =Panicum walense. FTEA.

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