Panicum perrieri

HABIT Perennial. Culms decumbent; 20–30 cm long. Lateral branches ample. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule absent. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 2–4 cm long; 2–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface smooth; glabrous, or pilose; hairy adaxially. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; linear; 1–3 cm long; bearing few spikelets. Primary panicle branches ascending; 0.5–1 cm long. Panicle branches scaberulous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 3 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes similar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 2.8–2.9 mm long; 0.9 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 3 mm long; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5–7 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; lanceolate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 7–9 -veined; acuminate. Fertile lemma oblong; dorsally compressed; 2 mm long; indurate; pallid; shiny; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acuminate. Palea involute; indurate.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: western Indian ocean.

NOTES Paniceae. Camus 1994.

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