Panicum palauense

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Culms erect; 30–40 cm long; 3–5 -noded. Culm-nodes pubescent. Leaf-sheaths mostly shorter than adjacent culm internode; hispid; with tubercle-based hairs. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 1 mm long. Leaf-blades 10–15 cm long; 2–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface smooth; pubescent, or pilose; hairy on both sides. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; effuse; 10–15 cm long. Primary panicle branches spreading; bearing 4–6 fertile spikelets on each lower branch. Panicle branches scaberulous; glabrous; glabrous in axils, or pubescent in axils.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong, or ovate; dorsally compressed; acuminate; 2 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; clasping; 1 mm long; 0.5 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 2 mm long; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5–7 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; ovate; 2 mm long; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; acute. Palea of lower sterile floret 0.5 length of lemma. Fertile lemma elliptic; dorsally compressed; 1.5 mm long; indurate; shiny; without keel. Lemma surface smooth. Lemma margins involute. Palea involute; indurate.

DISTRIBUTION Pacific: northwestern.

NOTES Paniceae. Ohwi 2005.

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