Panicum praealtum

HABIT Perennial. Culms erect; robust; 60–120 cm long; 2–4 mm diam. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blades 10–30 cm long; 5–10 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong, or ovate; 10–15 cm long; 3–15 cm wide. Primary panicle branches ascending, or spreading. Panicle branches capillary.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform; 1–6 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets orbicular; dorsally compressed; obtuse; 1.7–2.5 mm long; falling entire; readily shedding fertile florets.

GLUMES Glumes similar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma; shiny. Lower glume elliptic; 0.66–0.8 length of spikelet; membranous; yellow; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume surface glabrous. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; yellow; without keels; wingless; 5 -veined. Upper glume surface glabrous. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5 -veined; obtuse. Fertile lemma oblong; dorsally compressed; 1.5 mm long; chartaceous; pallid; without keel. Lemma surface tuberculate (verruculose). Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea involute; chartaceous. Palea surface tuberculate (verruculose).

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1.5 mm long.

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

NOTES Paniceae. FTA.

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