Panicum nervatum

HABIT Perennial. Rootstock evident. Culms decumbent; slender; 30–130 cm long; 1 mm diam. Leaves cauline. Ligule a ciliate membrane. Leaf-blades ascending, or spreading; linear, or lanceolate; parallel-sided; flat, or involute; 5–15(–20) cm long; 1.5–4(–5) mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pilose; with tubercle-based hairs. Leaf-blade apex acute, or acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong, or ovate; 6–18 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate, or orbicular; dorsally compressed; (1.2–)1.5–2.3(–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 -veined. Lower glume surface glabrous, or pubescent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; yellow, or purple; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume surface glabrous, or pubescent. 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; glabrous, or pubescent; acute. Fertile lemma oblong; dorsally compressed; 1.2–2.5 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 tropical, west-central tropical, northeast tropical, east tropical, and southern tropical.

NOTES Paniceae. FTEA.

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