Panicum nigerense

HABIT Annual. Culms robust; 80–100 cm long. Ligule a ciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 5–40 cm long; 4–10 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; obovate; 15–30 cm long. Primary panicle branches whorled at lower nodes; 10–20 cm long. Panicle branches stiff; scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; acuminate; 5–6 mm long; falling entire. Rhachilla internodes elongated between glumes.

GLUMES Glumes similar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma; recurved at apex. Lower glume ovate; 0.33–0.5 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 7 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 7 -veined; acuminate. Palea of lower sterile floret 0.5 length of lemma. Fertile lemma oblong; dorsally compressed; 4–5 mm long; indurate; pallid; shiny; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea involute; indurate.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: west tropical.

NOTES Paniceae. FWTA.

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