Panicum mapalense

HABIT Perennial. Culms rambling; 45–150 cm long. Ligule a ciliate membrane. Leaf-blade base simple, or broadly rounded. Leaf-blades lanceolate, or ovate; 6–10 cm long; 15–25 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation with distinct cross veins. Leaf-blade surface smooth, or scabrous; glabrous, or pilose; with tubercle-based hairs. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong; 15–30 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

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

GLUMES Glumes similar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.5–0.66 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 0–1(–3) -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent, or obscure. Lower glume surface asperulous. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume surface asperulous. Upper glume apex acute, or acuminate.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male, or barren; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5 -veined; scaberulous; acute, or acuminate. Fertile lemma oblong; dorsally compressed; 2–2.5 mm long; indurate; pallid; shiny; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea involute; indurate.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: east tropical.

NOTES Paniceae. FTEA.

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