Panicum monticola

HABIT Perennial. Culms decumbent; slender; 30–100 cm long. Ligule a ciliate membrane. Leaf-blades spreading; lanceolate, or ovate; tapering towards sheath; (3–)7–15 cm long; 5–25 mm wide; membranous. Leaf-blade venation without cross veins, or with distinct cross veins. Leaf-blade surface pilose; with tubercle-based hairs. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open, or contracted; oblong, or ovate; (5–)10–25 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate, or ovate; dorsally compressed; acuminate; 2.2–3.5(–4) mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes similar, or dissimilar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.25–0.5(–0.66) length of spikelet; hyaline, or membranous; without keels; 0–1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface glabrous, or pubescent, or pilose. Lower glume apex obtuse, or acute. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume surface glabrous, or pubescent, or pilose. Upper glume apex acute, or acuminate.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5 -veined; glabrous, or pubescent, or pilose; acute, or acuminate. Fertile lemma oblong; dorsally compressed; 2.5–3.5 mm long; indurate; pallid; shiny; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1.5 mm long.

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

NOTES Paniceae. FTEA.

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