Panicum ramosius

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 25–120 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous, or pubescent. Culm-nodes bearded. Lateral branches ample. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 1–2 mm long. Leaf-blades 4–10 cm long; 2–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface smooth, or scaberulous; glabrous, or hirsute; hairy adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; terminal and axillary.

Panicle open; linear; 5–15 cm long. Primary panicle branches appressed. Panicle axis scabrous; villous. Panicle branches scabrous; glabrous, or pubescent.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; acuminate; 3–4.5 mm long; falling entire. Rhachilla internodes elongated between glumes. Rhachilla elongation 0.3 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Lower glume surface villous; hairy below and between veins. Lower glume hairs 1–2 mm long. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Upper glume surface villous; hairy below and between veins. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; elliptic; 2.5–2.7 mm long; 0.6–0.8 length of spikelet; membranous; 7 -veined; pubescent; hairy above; acute. Fertile lemma elliptic, or oblong; dorsally compressed; 1.8–2 mm long; indurate; shiny; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.8–1.1 mm long; pallid.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Pacific: north-central.

NOTES Paniceae. Wagner 1993.

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