Panicum molinioides

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Rhizomes short. Butt sheaths persistent and investing base of culm; with fibrous dead sheaths. Culms erect; 50–100 cm long. Leaves without demarcation between sheath and blade. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface, or pubescent. Ligule absent. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 20–30 cm long; 8–15 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pubescent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; elliptic; 15–30 cm long. Primary panicle branches spreading.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic, or ovate; dorsally compressed; 1.5–1.75 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; clasping; 0.5–0.66 length of spikelet; membranous; pallid, or yellow; without keels; 1–3 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume lateral veins absent, or distinct. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; purple; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; purple; 5 -veined; acute. Fertile lemma elliptic; dorsally compressed; 1.5 mm long; indurate; pallid; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Palea involute; indurate.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil.

NOTES Paniceae. Renvoize 1995.

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