Panicum pampinosum

HABIT Perennial. Culms geniculately ascending. Culm-internodes elliptical in section; distally glabrous. Culm-nodes pubescent. Lateral branches ample; arising from lower culm and mid culm. Leaf-sheaths hispid; with tubercle-based hairs; outer margin hairy. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 2–3 mm long. Leaf-blade base broadly rounded, or cordate. Leaf-blades 5–12 cm long; 5–10 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pilose; sparsely hairy; hairy on both sides. Leaf-blade margins undulate; ciliate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle. Peduncle glabrous, or pubescent above.

Panicle open; ovate; 6–15 cm long. Primary panicle branches 1 -nate; 5–8 cm long.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; compressed slightly; acuminate; 4 mm long; 1–4 mm wide; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.75 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 9 -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; 9 -veined; acute. Fertile lemma elliptic; dorsally compressed; 2.5 mm long; indurate; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Palea involute; indurate.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid; 2.2 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION North America: southwest USA, south-central USA, and Mexico.

NOTES Paniceae. Hitchc & Chase 2004.

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