Panicum ravenelii

HABIT Perennial. Culms 40–75 cm long. Culm-nodes bearded. Lateral branches fastigiate; arising from mid culm and upper culm. Leaves basal and cauline; heterophyllous with a basal winter rosette. Leaf-sheaths pubescent; with tubercle-based hairs. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 3–4 mm long. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 8–13 cm long; 10–25 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation indistinct. Leaf-blade surface pubescent; densely hairy; hairy abaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; terminal and axillary.

Panicle open; ovate; 7–13 cm long; bearing few spikelets. Panicle axis puberulous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong, or obovate; with acute base; dorsally compressed; compressed slightly; obtuse; 3.7–5 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 1.8–2.2 mm long; 0.33 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume oblong; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 7–9 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins prominent. Upper glume surface pubescent. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; oblong; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 7–9 -veined; prominently veined; pubescent; obtuse. Fertile lemma oblong; dorsally compressed; 3.7–5 mm long; indurate; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea involute; indurate.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION North America: north-central USA, south-central USA, and southeast USA.

NOTES Paniceae. Gr Texas 1994.

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