Panicum pleianthum

HABIT Annual, or perennial; short-lived. Culms decumbent; 20–60 cm long. Leaves distichous. Leaf-sheaths outer margin hairy. Ligule a ciliate membrane. Leaf-blade base asymmetrical. Leaf-blades lanceolate; tapering towards sheath; 5–10 cm long; 6–10 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pilose. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong, or obovate; dense; 4–10 cm long. Primary panicle branches profusely divided.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; dorsally compressed; gibbous; 1.7–2.2 mm long; falling entire. Rhachilla internodes elongated between glumes.

GLUMES Glumes similar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.5 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Lower glume surface glabrous, or pilose. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume surface glabrous, or pilose. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5 -veined; glabrous, or pilose; acute. Fertile lemma oblong; dorsally compressed; 1.5–2 mm long; indurate; pallid, or dark brown; shiny; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea involute; indurate.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: east tropical and southern tropical.

NOTES Paniceae. FTEA.

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