Panicum massaiense

HABIT Annual. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; robust, or of moderate stature, or slender; 30–150 cm long. Lateral branches ample. Leaf-sheaths hispid. Ligule a ciliate membrane. Leaf-blades tapering towards sheath, or parallel-sided; 10–25(–30) cm long; 3–8(–13) mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or hispid. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; (6–)10–20(–30) cm long. Panicle branches capillary; straight, or flexuous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; dorsally compressed; 2.4–3 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes similar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma; gaping. Lower glume ovate; 0.5–0.66 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 1(–5) -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent, or obscure. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5–7 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 7 -veined; acuminate. Fertile lemma oblong; dorsally compressed; 1.75 mm long; indurate; pallid; shiny; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea involute; indurate.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: west-central tropical, east tropical, and southern tropical.

NOTES Paniceae. FTEA.

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