Panicum rudgei

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 75–125 cm long; 1.5–3 mm diam. Culm-internodes distally pilose. Culm-nodes bearded. Lateral branches ample; arising from upper culm. Leaf-sheaths pilose. Ligule a ciliate membrane; 1.5–2 mm long. Leaf-blades 20–40 cm long; 8–14 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade surface pilose. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; terminal and axillary. Axillary inflorescences intermingled with terminal.

Panicle open; ovate; effuse; 30–40 cm long; 10–20 cm wide.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; dorsally compressed; acuminate; 3–3.4 mm long; falling entire. Rhachilla internodes elongated between glumes and elongated below proximal fertile floret. Rhachilla elongation 0.5 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma; gaping. Lower glume ovate; 2.7–2.9 mm long; 0.75 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Lower glume surface pubescent; hairy above. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume ovate; 3–3.4 mm long; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5–7 -veined. Upper glume surface pubescent; hairy above. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; ovate; 2.5 mm long; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 7–9 -veined; pubescent; hairy above; acuminate. Fertile lemma elliptic; dorsally compressed; 1.7–1.9 mm long; indurate; shiny; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.6–0.9 mm long; purple.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Mexico. South America: Mesoamericana, Caribbean, northern South America, western South America, and Brazil.

NOTES Paniceae. Fl Costa Rica 1994.

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