Panicum mindanaense

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 20–80 cm long. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface; outer margin glabrous, or hairy. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.5–1 mm long. Leaf-blades 5–15 cm long; 2–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; effuse; 10–15 cm long; with spikelets clustered towards branch tips. Panicle branches scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; 2–2.8 mm long; falling entire. Rhachilla internodes elongated between glumes.

GLUMES Glumes reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; clasping; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5–7 -veined. Lower glume primary vein smooth, or scaberulous. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5–7 -veined. Upper glume primary vein smooth, or scaberulous. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5–7 -veined; acuminate. Palea of lower sterile floret 0.5 length of lemma. Fertile lemma elliptic; dorsally compressed; 2–2.8 mm long; indurate; shiny; without keel; 5–7 -veined. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: Indo-China, Malesia, and Papuasia. Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Paniceae. Reeder 1993.

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