Panicum nudiflorum

HABIT Annual. Culms geniculately ascending, or decumbent; slender; 60–80 cm long; rooting from lower nodes. Ligule a ciliate membrane. Leaf-blade base cordate. Leaf-blades linear, or lanceolate; 10–18 cm long; 7–10 mm wide; dark green. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; pyramidal, or ovate; 25–40 cm long. Primary panicle branches appressed, or ascending.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; dorsally compressed; acute; (1.5–)2 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.25 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume ovate; 0.33–0.5 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5 -veined; acute. Fertile lemma ovate; dorsally compressed; 1.5 mm long; indurate; pallid; without keel. Lemma surface reticulate. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex apiculate; with a little green crest. Palea involute; indurate.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: east tropical.

NOTES Paniceae. FTEA.

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