Panicum hymeniochilum

HABIT Annual. Culms geniculately ascending; slender; 14–120 cm long; rooting from lower nodes. Ligule a ciliate membrane. Leaf-blade base broadly rounded, or cordate. Leaf-blades spreading, or reflexed; lanceolate; 1.2–7(–8.5) cm long; 1.2–5(–10) mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pilose; with simple hairs and clavellate hairs. Leaf-blade margins scaberulous. Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong; 2–10 cm long; contracted about primary branches. Primary panicle branches bearing spikelets almost to the base. Panicle branches glabrous (rarely), or pilose; with simple hairs and clavellate hairs.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels straight.

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

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.5–0.66 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 0–1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 7–9 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 7–9 -veined; acute. Fertile lemma oblong; dorsally compressed; 2–3 mm long; indurate; pallid; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea involute; indurate.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: west tropical, west-central tropical, northeast tropical, east tropical, southern tropical, south, and western Indian ocean.

NOTES Paniceae. FTEA.

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