Panicum pusillum

HABIT Annual. Culms decumbent; weak; (1.5–)5–40 cm long; rooting from lower nodes. Ligule a ciliate membrane. Leaf-blades lanceolate; tapering towards sheath, or parallel-sided; 0.6–4(–4.5) cm long; 1.5–6 mm wide; membranous. Leaf-blade venation without cross veins. Leaf-blade surface pilose. Leaf-blade apex acute, or acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 1–2(–5) cm long. Primary panicle branches spreading, or reflexed. Panicle branches pilose.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; dorsally compressed; acute; 1.5–2 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes similar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.5–0.66 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume surface glabrous, or pilose; with tubercle-based hairs. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5–7 -veined. Upper glume surface glabrous, or pilose; with tubercle-based hairs. 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; with tubercle-based hairs; acute. Fertile lemma oblong; dorsally compressed; 1.5–2 mm long; indurate; pallid; shiny; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea involute; indurate.

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

NOTES Paniceae. FTEA.

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