Panicum schinzii

HABIT Annual. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 30–120 cm long. Ligule a ciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 10–40 cm long; 5–15 mm wide; glaucous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; terminal and axillary.

Panicle open; oblong, or ovate; 10–35 cm long. Panicle branches capillary; flexuous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; dorsally compressed; obtuse, or subacute; 2.3–2.8 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblate; 0.15–0.2 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex obtuse, or acute. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; glaucous; without keels; 7–9 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 7–9 -veined; acute. Fertile lemma oblong; dorsally compressed; 2–2.5 mm long; indurate; dark brown; shiny; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea involute; indurate.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: southern tropical and south. Asia-tropical: Malesia. Australasia: Australia and New Zealand.

NOTES Paniceae. FZ.

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