Panicum hygrocharis

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes elongated. Stolons absent, or present. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; slender; 30–60 cm long. Ligule a ciliate membrane. Leaf-blades flat; 5–12 cm long; 3–5 mm wide; herbaceous; firm. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pilose. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong, or ovate; 6–14 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; dorsally compressed; acuminate; 2.5(–3) mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblate; 0.33 length of spikelet; hyaline; without keels; 0(–3) -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent, or obscure. Lower glume apex obtuse, or acute. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 7 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

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; 2–2.5 mm long; indurate; pallid; shiny; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea involute; indurate.

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

NOTES Paniceae. FTEA.

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