Panicum pedersenii

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes elongated; scaly; hairy. Culms 70–100 cm long. Culm-internodes 5.5–12 cm long. Culm-nodes glabrous. Leaf-sheaths 5–11 cm long; glabrous on surface, or pilose; outer margin glabrous, or hairy. Ligule a ciliate membrane; 1.7–2.4 mm long. Collar glabrous, or pubescent. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 11–27 cm long; 4–7 mm wide. Leaf-blade midrib conspicuous. Leaf-blade surface pubescent; hairy adaxially. Leaf-blade margins scaberulous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; effuse; 8–23 cm long; 4–15 cm wide. Panicle axis scabrous. Panicle branches glabrous in axils.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 1.5–7 mm long; scabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; dorsally compressed; 3–4 mm long; 0.9–1.4 mm wide; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 1.3–1.7 mm long; 0.33 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5–7 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 9–11 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 9–11 -veined; acute. Fertile lemma elliptic; dorsally compressed; 2.5–2.9 mm long; indurate; yellow; shiny; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 1.8–2.3 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil and southern South America.

NOTES Paniceae. Zuloaga 1995.

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