Panicum ichunense

HABIT Annual. Culms decumbent; slender; 10–20 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Culm-nodes glabrous, or bearded. Lateral branches ample. Leaf-sheaths mostly shorter than adjacent culm internode; pilose; outer margin hairy. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.8–1 mm long. Leaf-blades lanceolate, or elliptic; 3–4 cm long; 3–10 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pilose; sparsely hairy.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 2.5–6 cm long. Primary panicle branches spreading, or reflexed; 2–4.5 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets linear; dorsally compressed; 2–2.2 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 0.6–0.8 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3 -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 barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5 -veined; acute. Fertile lemma elliptic; dorsally compressed; 1.7 mm long; indurate; pallid; without keel. Lemma surface papillose. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute. Palea involute; indurate.

DISTRIBUTION South America: northern South America.

NOTES Paniceae. Swallen 2002.

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