Panicum perlongum

HABIT Perennial. Culms erect; 10–25 cm long. Lateral branches lacking. Leaves all alike. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface, or pilose; with tubercle-based hairs. Ligule an eciliate membrane, or a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 6–15 cm long; 2–5 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; lanceolate; 4–8 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; obtuse; 2.7–3.2 mm long; falling entire. Rhachilla internodes elongated between glumes.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.33 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 7 -veined. Upper glume surface pubescent. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 7 -veined; puberulous. Fertile lemma obovate; dorsally compressed; 2.2–3.2 mm long; indurate; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Palea involute; indurate.

DISTRIBUTION North America: western Canada, eastern Canada, northwest USA, north-central USA, northeast USA, south-central USA, and southeast USA.

NOTES Paniceae. Man US Grass 2004.

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