Panicum phoiniclados

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Rhizomes short. Culms erect; 60–120 cm long; woody. Culm-nodes glabrous. Lateral branches ample; arising from mid culm and upper culm. Leaf-sheaths without keel; glabrous on surface. Ligule a ciliate membrane; 0.6–0.9 mm long. Collar glabrous. Leaf-blades erect, or ascending, or spreading; 10–40 cm long; 3–8 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade margins scaberulous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; 5–28 cm long. Primary panicle branches appressed. Panicle branches scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate, or elliptic; dorsally compressed; acuminate; 2.4–2.8 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.6–1 mm long; 0.4 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex cuspidate. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 7–9 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 7–9 -veined; acute. Palea of lower sterile floret 1 length of lemma. Fertile lemma elliptic; dorsally compressed; 1.7–1.9 mm long; indurate; dark brown; shiny; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1.2–1.4 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; 1.1 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: India.

NOTES Paniceae. Fl Ceyl 1993.

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