Panicum pellitum

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Culms 4–65 cm long. Culm-internodes distally pilose. Culm-nodes bearded. Lateral branches lacking, or sparse. Leaves cauline. Leaf-sheaths pilose; with tubercle-based hairs. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.1–0.5 mm long. Leaf-blades 2–17 cm long; 2–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pilose; with tubercle-based hairs. Leaf-blade margins ciliate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; obovate; 2–18 cm long. Primary panicle branches spreading. Panicle axis pilose. Panicle branches pilose.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; acute; 1.5–2.1 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.75–0.9 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Lower glume surface pubescent. Lower glume hairs 0.4–1.5 mm long. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 7 -veined. Upper glume surface pubescent; hairy above. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 7 -veined; acute. Palea of lower sterile floret 0.25–0.33 length of lemma. Fertile lemma elliptic; dorsally compressed; 1.1–1.3 mm long; indurate; dark brown; shiny; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.5–0.7 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Pacific: north-central.

NOTES Paniceae. Wagner 1993.

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