Panicum khasianum

HABIT Perennial. Culms prostrate; 100–200 cm long; rooting from lower nodes. Culm-nodes glabrous. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface, or hispid; outer margin glabrous, or hairy. Leaf-sheath oral hairs bearded. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blade base cordate. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 15–30 cm long; 1.8–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pubescent. Leaf-blade margins ciliate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 15–30 cm long. Primary panicle branches 7–15 cm long. Panicle branches scaberulous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; obtuse, or subacute; 2–2.25 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.75 mm long; 0.25 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume lanceolate, or ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Upper glume apex obtuse.

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; obtuse. Fertile lemma ovate; dorsally compressed; 2–2.25 mm long; chartaceous; without keel. Lemma surface pubescent. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex apiculate; woolly. Palea involute; chartaceous.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China. Asia-tropical: India and Malesia.

NOTES Paniceae. Fl Assam 1993.

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