Panicum mitchellii

HABIT Perennial. Rootstock evident. Cataphylls evident. Culms erect; 100–200 cm long; 4–8 -noded. Culm-nodes glabrous. Leaf-sheaths antrorsely scabrous; glabrous on surface, or pilose; outer margin glabrous, or hairy. Ligule a ciliate membrane; 0.8–1.5 mm long. Leaf-blades 10–50 cm long; 6–14 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 20–40 cm long. Primary panicle branches spreading; 12–30 cm long; bearing 40–200 fertile spikelets on each lower branch. Panicle axis scabrous. Panicle branches scabrous; glabrous in axils.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 2–10 mm long; scabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; 2.5–3 mm long; 0.9–1.1 mm wide; falling entire. Rhachilla internodes elongated between glumes. Rhachilla elongation 0.15–0.25 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 1.2–1.6 mm long; 0.5–0.6 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 7 -veined. Upper glume apex obtuse, or acute; muticous, or mucronate.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5–7 -veined; acute; muticous, or mucronate. Fertile lemma elliptic; dorsally compressed; 2–2.5 mm long; indurate; without keel. Lemma lateral veins obscure. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1.3–1.6 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Paniceae. Webster 1993.

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