Panicum omega

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths pilose; persistent and investing base of culm; with fibrous dead sheaths. Culms slender; 17–27 cm long. Leaves mostly basal. Leaf-sheaths as wide as blade at the collar; pilose; with simple hairs and clavellate hairs. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 3–7 cm long; 2–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pilose; with tubercle-based hairs. Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong, or ovate; 2.5–3.5 cm long. Panicle branches glabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

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

GLUMES Glumes similar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblong; 0.5–0.66 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex lobed. Upper glume oblong; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; purple; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume apex lobed.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; oblong; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 7 -veined; pilose; hairy above (tip); lobed. Fertile lemma oblong; dorsally compressed; coriaceous; pallid; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea involute; coriaceous.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: east tropical.

NOTES Paniceae. FTEA.

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