Panicum machrisianum

HABIT Annual. Culms geniculately ascending; slender; 9–12 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Lateral branches ample. Leaf-sheaths mostly shorter than adjacent culm internode; pilose. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1 mm long. Leaf-blades 0.5–1.6 cm long; 1–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 1.2–2.5 cm long; bearing few spikelets. Primary panicle branches reflexed; bearing 1–3 fertile spikelets on each lower branch. Panicle branches capillary.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; 1.5 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume linear; 0.7 mm long; 0.5 length of spikelet; hyaline; without keels; 0 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume surface pilose; with tubercle-based hairs. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5 -veined; pilose; with tubercle-based hairs; acute. Fertile lemma elliptic; dorsally compressed; 1.5 mm long; indurate; pallid; shiny; without keel. Lemma surface smooth. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute. Palea involute; indurate.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil.

NOTES Paniceae. Swallen 2002.

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