Panicum prionitis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Culms robust; 100–200 cm long; 3–10 mm diam. Culm-internodes channelled; 19–33 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.6–0.8 mm long. Leaf-blades 100–150 cm long; 4–17 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade margins scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; pyramidal; equilateral; 40–70 cm long. Primary panicle branches profusely divided.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels ciliate.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; dorsally compressed; 2–2.5 mm long; 1–1.2 mm wide; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 1.2–1.8 mm long; 0.33–0.5 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scaberulous. 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; 3 -veined; acute. Fertile lemma lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 1.7 mm long; 0.7 mm wide; indurate; pallid; shiny; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Palea involute; indurate.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; oblong; 1.1 mm long. Embryo 0.5 length of caryopsis. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil and southern South America.

NOTES Paniceae. Fl Entre Rios 1995.

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