Panicum lutzii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 30–50 cm long. Leaves mostly basal. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule a ciliate membrane. Leaf-blades flexuous; conduplicate; 15–30 cm long; 2–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; linear; 8–10 cm long; 1 cm wide. Primary panicle branches appressed; 2–5 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; 1.8–2 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.66 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 3–5 -veined; obtuse. Fertile lemma elliptic; dorsally compressed; 1.6 mm long; indurate; light brown; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute. Palea involute; indurate.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil.

NOTES Paniceae. Swallen 1995.

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