Panicum pandum

HABIT Annual. Culms 7–17 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Culm-nodes bearded. Lateral branches ample; arising from upper culm. Leaf-sheaths mostly shorter than adjacent culm internode; glabrous on surface, or pilose; outer margin hairy. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.6–1 mm long. Leaf-blade base cordate. Leaf-blades 13–20 cm long; 3–6 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pilose; sparsely hairy.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; terminal and axillary. Axillary inflorescences present in upper axils.

Panicle open; ovate; 3–6 cm long. Primary panicle branches ascending; branching divaricately. Panicle branches stiff; glabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic, or obovate; dorsally compressed; 1.1–1.4 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.5–0.8 mm long; 0.5–0.6 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume surface pilose. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5 -veined; pilose; acute. Fertile lemma elliptic, or obovate; dorsally compressed; 0.9–1.3 mm long; indurate; pallid; without keel. Lemma surface smooth. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute. Palea involute; indurate.

DISTRIBUTION South America: northern South America.

NOTES Paniceae. Fl Guiana 1995.

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