Panicum rupestre

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes elongated. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 30–35 cm long; wiry. Lateral branches ample. Leaves cauline. Ligule a ciliate membrane. Leaf-blades linear, or lanceolate; flat, or involute; 3–10 cm long; 1–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pilose; sparsely hairy. Leaf-blade apex acute, or acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong, or ovate; 5–10 cm long. Primary panicle branches moderately divided, or profusely divided.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

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

GLUMES Glumes reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.66 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume surface puberulous. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume surface puberulous. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5 -veined; puberulous; acute. Fertile lemma elliptic; dorsally compressed; 1.5–2 mm long; indurate; pallid; shiny; without keel. Lemma surface smooth. Lemma margins involute. Palea involute; indurate.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil.

NOTES Paniceae. Gr Bahia 1995.

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