Panicum paucinode

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; slender; 60–90 cm long. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blades flat, or convolute; 5–10 cm long; 2–3 mm wide; flaccid. Leaf-blade margins scaberulous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; lanceolate; 15–30 cm long. Panicle branches glabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 6–12 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; dorsally compressed; acuminate; 2.5–2.7 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes similar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma; gaping. Lower glume ovate; 0.66 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acuminate; mucronate. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 0.3–1 mm long.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5 -veined; acute. Fertile lemma oblong; dorsally compressed; 1.5 mm long; indurate; pallid; shiny; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1.2 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: west tropical, west-central tropical, and northeast tropical.

NOTES Paniceae. FTA.

ADDITIONAL CHARACTERS Glumes gape at 45 degrees.

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