Panicum latifolium

HABIT Perennial. Rootstock evident. Culms erect; robust; 45–90 cm long. Culm-nodes glabrous. Lateral branches ample; arising from mid culm. Leaves heterophyllous with a basal winter rosette. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface, or pubescent; outer margin hairy. Ligule a ciliate membrane; 0.1–0.5 mm long. Leaf-blade base cordate. Leaf-blades ascending, or spreading; lanceolate; 8–15 cm long; 15–35 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pubescent. Leaf-blade margins tuberculate-ciliate; hairy at base.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle. Peduncle glabrous, or pubescent above.

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

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; dorsally compressed; acute; 3.2–3.7 mm long; 1.8–2 mm wide; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.33–0.5 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume surface pubescent. Lower glume apex obtuse, or acute. Upper glume ovate; 0.9 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 9 -veined. Upper glume surface pubescent. 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; 9 -veined; pubescent; acute. Fertile lemma elliptic; dorsally compressed; 2.5–3.2 mm long; indurate; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 0.8–1 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION North America: eastern Canada, north-central USA, northeast USA, and southeast USA.

NOTES Paniceae. Gr Indiana 1994.

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