Panicum polyanthes

HABIT Perennial. Culms erect; 30–90 cm long. Culm-nodes glabrous. Lateral branches sparse. Leaves heterophyllous with a basal winter rosette. Ligule absent. Leaf-blade base cordate. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 12–23 cm long; 15–25 mm wide. Leaf-blade margins cartilaginous; ciliate; hairy at base.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 8–25 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets orbicular; dorsally compressed; 1.5–1.6 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.25 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume surface puberulous. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; orbicular; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 7 -veined; puberulous. Fertile lemma orbicular; dorsally compressed; 1.5–1.6 mm long; indurate; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Palea involute; indurate.

DISTRIBUTION North America: north-central USA, northeast USA, south-central USA, and southeast USA.

NOTES Paniceae. Man US Grass 2004.

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