Panicum pilgerianum

HABIT Annual. Culms erect; 30–200 cm long; spongy. Ligule a ciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 10–30 cm long; 5–12 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; linear, or oblong; 6–36 cm long; contracted about primary branches. Primary panicle branches appressed, or ascending.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; acuminate; 4–5.5 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblate; 0.15–0.2 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 0–3 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 7–9 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5–7 -veined; acute. Fertile lemma oblong; dorsally compressed; 3.5–5 mm long; indurate; pallid; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex apiculate. Palea involute; indurate.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: south.

NOTES Paniceae. FZ.

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