Panicum nigromarginatum

HABIT Annual. Culms geniculately ascending; weak; 30–55 cm long. Leaf-sheaths as wide as blade at the collar, or narrower than blade at the collar. Ligule a ciliate membrane. Leaf-blades spreading, or reflexed; lanceolate; 1.5–3.5(–4.5) cm long; 1–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pilose; sparsely hairy. Leaf-blade margins glabrous, or ciliate (clavellately). Leaf-blade apex acute, or acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong, or ovate; 1–6 cm long; contracted about primary branches. Primary panicle branches bearing spikelets almost to the base. Panicle branches pilose; with clavellate hairs.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; dorsally compressed; 1.2–1.5 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.33–0.5 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 0 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume oblong; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 7 -veined. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 7 -veined; obtuse. Fertile lemma oblong; dorsally compressed; 1.2–1.5 mm long; indurate; pallid; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea involute; indurate.

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

NOTES Paniceae. FTEA.

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