Panicum scabriusculum

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 60–150 cm long; 2–3 mm diam.; 6–7 -noded. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Culm-nodes glabrous. Lateral branches sparse. Leaves heterophyllous with a basal winter rosette. Leaf-sheaths without exudate; glabrous on surface, or hirsute; with tubercle-based hairs. Ligule absent. Leaf-blade base cordate. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 6–13 cm long; 8–15 mm wide; 5–9 mm wide in winter rosette. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pilose; hairy abaxially. Leaf-blade margins ciliate; hairy at base. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; elliptic, or ovate; 8–13 cm long; 6–10 cm wide; bearing few spikelets. Primary panicle branches ascending. Panicle axis glabrous. Panicle branches scabrous; pubescent in axils.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels scabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; obtuse; 2.2–2.8 mm long; 1.2 mm wide; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.8–1 mm long; 0.33 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins prominent. Upper glume surface pubescent. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5 -veined; prominently veined; pubescent; obtuse. Fertile lemma elliptic; dorsally compressed; 2–2.5 mm long; indurate; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea involute; indurate.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

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

NOTES Paniceae. Man Gr US 1994.

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