Panicum lineale

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Culms erect; 55–126 cm long. Lateral branches lacking. Leaves mostly basal; distichous. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface, or puberulous. Ligule a ciliate membrane; 0.4–0.5 mm long. Leaf-blades involute; 60–85 cm long; 4–9 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous; hairless except near base. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 20–35 cm long; 6–10 cm wide. Primary panicle branches spreading. Panicle axis glabrous. Panicle branches pubescent in axils.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; acuminate; 4.1–4.8 mm long; falling entire. Rhachilla internodes elongated between glumes.

GLUMES Glumes reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 1.7–2.6 mm long; 0.4–0.5 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3–7 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 9 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

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. Palea of lower sterile floret 0.2–0.5 length of lemma. Fertile lemma elliptic; dorsally compressed; 2.5–2.9 mm long; indurate; shiny; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 2.2–2.4 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Pacific: north-central.

NOTES Paniceae. Wagner 1993.

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