Panicum pilgeri

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; slender; 30–120 cm long; 1.5 mm diam. Culm-internodes distally hirsute. Leaf-sheaths hirsute. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 1 mm long. Leaf-blades 20–40 cm long; 2–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or hirsute. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open, or contracted; oblong; dense; 10–27 cm long. Primary panicle branches 2–3 -nate; subdividing 4(–5) times. Panicle branches pilose.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels ciliate.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; dorsally compressed; acuminate; 2–3 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes similar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma; gaping. Lower glume ovate; 0.5–1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Lower glume apex acuminate; muticous, or mucronate, or awned; 1 -awned. Lower glume awn 0–1 mm long. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5–7 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate; muticous, or mucronate, or awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 0–1 mm long.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5 -veined; acuminate. Fertile lemma oblong; dorsally compressed; 1.5 mm long; indurate; pallid; shiny; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 2 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: west tropical, west-central tropical, northeast tropical, and southern tropical.

NOTES Paniceae. FTA.

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