Panicum laticomum

HABIT Annual. Culms decumbent, or rambling; slender; 30–200 cm long. Ligule a ciliate membrane. Leaf-blade base asymmetrical. Leaf-blades lanceolate; tapering towards sheath; 6–10 cm long; (5–)10–28 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pilose. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong, or ovate, or obovate; (6–)10–20(–24) cm long. Primary panicle branches profusely divided. Panicle branches capillary.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; dorsally compressed; gibbous; acute; 1.5–2 mm long; falling entire. Rhachilla internodes elongated between glumes.

GLUMES Glumes similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.5 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume surface glabrous, or pilose. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume oblong; 0.66 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume surface glabrous, or pilose. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5–7 -veined; glabrous, or pilose; acute. Fertile lemma oblong; dorsally compressed; 1.5–2 mm long; indurate; pallid; without keel. Lemma surface granulose. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea involute; indurate.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: east tropical, southern tropical, and south.

NOTES Paniceae. FTEA.

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