Panicum infestum

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 50–200 cm long. Leaf-sheaths wider than blade at the collar; glabrous on surface (rarely), or hispid; with tubercle-based hairs. Ligule a ciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 15–50 cm long; 2–10 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous (rarely), or pilose; with tubercle-based hairs. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 7–10; borne along a central axis; 7–12 cm long; simple, or secondarily branched; secondary branches racemulose, or glomerate. Central inflorescence axis 10–28 cm long. Raceme-bases brief; pubescent, or pilose.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; dorsally compressed; 2.5–4.1 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.25–0.33 length of spikelet; hyaline; without keels; 1–3 -veined. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume oblong; 1 length of spikelet; cartilaginous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; oblong; 1 length of spikelet; cartilaginous; 5 -veined; sulcate; obtuse. Fertile lemma oblong; dorsally compressed; 2.5–4 mm long; indurate; pallid; without keel. Lemma surface rugose. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea involute; indurate. Palea surface rugose.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1.5 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: 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.