Panicum pearsonii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths woolly. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 25–50 cm long; 2–4 -noded. Culm-internodes terete; striate. Culm-nodes pubescent. Leaf-sheaths 10 cm long; striately veined; smooth; glabrous on surface; outer margin hairy. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 10–25 cm long; 7–9 mm wide; light green to mid-green. Leaf-blade surface smooth; glabrous. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 10–20 cm long; 6–12.5 cm wide; contracted about primary branches. Primary panicle branches 1 -nate; 5–12 cm long. Panicle branches flexuous; smooth, or scaberulous; pubescent in axils.

Spikelets solitary, or in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform; 2 mm long; tip discoid.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; dorsally compressed; acute; 3.1–3.5 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate, or orbicular; clasping; 2 mm long; 0.5–0.66 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acute, or acuminate. Upper glume ovate; 3–3.5 mm long; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 7 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins prominent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; ovate; 3–3.5 mm long; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 9 -veined; acute. Fertile lemma oblong; dorsally compressed; 3 mm long; indurate; pallid; shiny; without keel; 7 -veined. Lemma surface smooth. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 2 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: south.

NOTES Paniceae. Bolus 1999.

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