Panicum longivaginatum

HABIT Perennial. Culms erect; 50–70 cm long. Lateral branches lacking. Leaves cauline. Leaf-sheaths 5–11 cm long; glabrous on surface; outer margin hairy. Ligule a ciliate membrane; 1–1.5 mm long. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 6–12 cm long; 10–13 mm wide; coriaceous; stiff. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; lanceolate; dense; 11–13 cm long. Primary panicle branches appressed. Panicle axis glabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; acute; 2.8–3.5 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.3–1.2 mm long; 0.1–0.33 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic; 2.8–3.5 mm long; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 9 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 9 -veined; obtuse. Fertile lemma ovate; dorsally compressed; 2.2–2.8 mm long; indurate; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute. Palea involute; indurate.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Pacific: north-central.

NOTES Paniceae. WDC 1997.

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