Panicum nephelophilum

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 45–240 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous, or pubescent, or pilose; with tubercle-based hairs. Culm-nodes glabrous, or bearded. Lateral branches lacking. Leaves cauline. Leaf-sheaths pubescent, or pilose; with tubercle-based hairs. Ligule a ciliate membrane; 1.1–4.9 mm long. Leaf-blades 10–40 cm long; 8–25 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous to pilose; sparsely hairy, or moderately hairy, or densely hairy.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; elliptic, or ovate; 15–60 cm long. Primary panicle branches ascending, or spreading; whorled at lower nodes. Panicle branches scabrous; pubescent in axils.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; acuminate; 1.8–3.4 mm long; falling entire.

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

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 7–9 -veined; acute. Palea of lower sterile floret 0.33–0.5 length of lemma. Fertile lemma lanceolate, or elliptic; dorsally compressed; 1.5–2 mm long; indurate; shiny; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.9–1.5 mm long; purple.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Pacific: north-central.

NOTES Paniceae. Wagner 1993.

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