Panicum madipirense

HABIT Annual. Culms erect; 25–120 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous, or hirsute. Ligule a ciliate membrane. Leaf-blade base cordate. Leaf-blades linear, or lanceolate; 8–24 cm long; 6–12 mm wide; light green. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pilose. Leaf-blade apex acute, or acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong; 10–20(–30) cm long. Panicle branches capillary.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; dorsally compressed; acute; 2.5–3.7 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.25 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 1–7 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 9 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; winged on margins (apically); 9 -veined; acute. Fertile lemma oblong; dorsally compressed; 2.5–3.5 mm long; indurate; pallid; without keel. Lemma surface scaberulous; rough above (tip). Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex apiculate. Palea involute; indurate.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: east tropical, southern tropical, and south.

NOTES Paniceae. FTEA.

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