Panicum leptolomoides

HABIT Perennial. Culms erect; 50–70 cm long; 3–4 mm diam. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Lateral branches ample. Leaf-sheaths striately veined; glabrous on surface; outer margin hairy. Ligule a ciliate membrane. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 15–16 cm long; 9–14 mm wide. Leaf-blade margins scaberulous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; effuse; 15–22 cm long; 15–22 cm wide. Primary panicle branches 8–11 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform; 30–50 mm long; tip widened.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; 4.5–4.8 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes similar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 4.4–4.7 mm long; 0.9 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5–7 -veined. Lower glume surface glabrous. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5–9 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 7–9 -veined; acute. Palea of lower sterile floret 4 mm long; pilose; adorned on flanks. Fertile lemma oblong; dorsally compressed; 3.5–3.7 mm long; indurate; shiny; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea involute; indurate.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: western Indian ocean.

NOTES Paniceae. Camus 1999.

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