Panicum queenslandicum

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rootstock evident. Butt sheaths villous. Culms 30–70 cm long; 3 -noded. Culm-internodes scaberulous. Culm-nodes glabrous. Leaf-sheaths striately veined; glabrous on surface. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 1 mm long. Leaf-blades convolute; 10–25 cm long; 1–2.5 mm wide; firm. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pilose; sparsely hairy. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 10–25 cm long; with spikelets clustered towards branch tips. Primary panicle branches spreading; whorled at lower nodes; branching divaricately; 10–23 cm long. Panicle branches stiff; with prominent pulvini.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 0.5–10 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; acuminate; 3–7 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate, or ovate; 0.75–0.85 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins transversely connected at apex. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 7 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; with palea, or without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 7 -veined; acute. Palea of lower sterile floret 0.33 length of lemma. Fertile lemma oblong; dorsally compressed; 5–6 mm long; indurate; shiny; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: Malesia and Papuasia. Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Paniceae. Fl NSW 1993.

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