Panicum mahafalense

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 40–80 cm long. Culm-internodes elliptical in section; distally glabrous. Culm-nodes glabrous. Lateral branches lacking, or sparse. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; truncate. Leaf-blades 15–40 cm long; 2–10 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous; hairless throughout, or except near base.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 10–25 cm long. Primary panicle branches ascending, or spreading; 5–15 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform; flexuous; 5–10 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; dorsally compressed; acute; 2.5–3 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma; gaping. Lower glume orbicular; 0.24–0.33 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 1–3 -veined. Lower glume surface pubescent. Lower glume apex obtuse; muticous, or mucronate. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume surface pubescent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; oblong; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5–7 -veined; pubescent; acute. Fertile lemma oblong; dorsally compressed; 2.5–3 mm long; indurate; pallid; without keel. Lemma surface rugose. Lemma margins convolute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea involute; indurate.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: western Indian ocean.

NOTES Paniceae. Gr Madag 1997.

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