Panicum leibergii

HABIT Perennial. Culms erect; slender; 25–75 cm long. Culm-internodes antrorsely scabrous; distally glabrous, or pilose. Lateral branches sparse. Leaves basal and cauline; heterophyllous with a basal winter rosette. Leaf-sheaths hispid; with tubercle-based hairs. Ligule absent. Leaf-blades erect, or ascending; lanceolate; 6–15 cm long; 7–15 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface hispid; hairy on both sides; with tubercle-based hairs.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; lanceolate; 8–15 cm long. Primary panicle branches appressed.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; 3.7–4 mm long; falling entire. Rhachilla internodes elongated between glumes.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 0.5 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface hispid; with tubercle-based hairs. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume oblong; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 7 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins prominent. Upper glume surface hispid; with tubercle-based hairs. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; oblong; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 7 -veined; prominently veined; hispid; with tubercle-based hairs; obtuse. Fertile lemma oblong; dorsally compressed; 3.7–4 mm long; indurate; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea involute; indurate.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

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

NOTES Paniceae. Man US Gr 1997.

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