Panicum poliophyllum

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 90–135 cm long. Leaf-sheaths keeled; pilose; outer margin hairy. Ligule a ciliate membrane. Leaf-blades linear, or lanceolate; conduplicate, or involute; 35–72 cm long; 6–12 mm wide; stiff; glaucous, or grey-green. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pilose. Leaf-blade apex pungent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong, or pyramidal; 20–26 cm long; 7–18 cm wide. Primary panicle branches ascending, or spreading; whorled at most nodes; profusely divided. Panicle branches pilose.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; 2–2.5 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.5–0.75 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -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 -veined; acute. Fertile lemma elliptic; dorsally compressed; 2–2.5 mm long; indurate; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Palea involute; indurate.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil.

NOTES Paniceae. Renvoize 1995.

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