Panicum natalense

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short. Culms erect; 25–120 cm long; wiry. Ligule a ciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 12–28 cm long; 2–3.5 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong, or ovate; 7–15 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets orbicular; dorsally compressed; 2–2.5 mm long; falling entire; readily shedding fertile florets.

GLUMES Glumes similar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.66–0.75 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5 -veined; acute. Fertile lemma oblong; dorsally compressed; 1.5–2 mm long; chartaceous; pallid; without keel. Lemma surface tuberculate (verruculose). Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea involute; chartaceous. Palea surface tuberculate (verruculose).

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

NOTES Paniceae. FZ.

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