Panicum larcomianum

HABIT Perennial. Cataphylls evident. Culms erect; 40–100 cm long; 4–8 -noded. Culm-nodes glabrous. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 0.7–1.3 mm long. Leaf-blades filiform; flat, or conduplicate; 9–35 cm long; 2–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface smooth; glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; lanceolate, or ovate; 12–26 cm long. Primary panicle branches ascending, or spreading; 5–12 cm long; bearing 20–60 fertile spikelets on each lower branch. Panicle axis smooth, or scabrous. Panicle branches smooth, or scaberulous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 0.8–4.5 mm long; scabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; 2–2.7 mm long; falling entire. Rhachilla internodes elongated between glumes. Rhachilla elongation 0.1 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume obovate; 0.5–0.8 mm long; 0.25–0.33 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex truncate, or acute. Upper glume elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 7–9 -veined. Upper glume apex acute, or acuminate.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 7–9 -veined; acute, or acuminate. Palea of lower sterile floret 1 length of lemma. Fertile lemma elliptic; dorsally compressed; 1.6–2 mm long; indurate; without keel. Lemma lateral veins distinct. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse, or acute. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.8–1.1 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Paniceae. Webster 1993.

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