Panicum sipapoense

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short. Basal innovations flabellate. Culms erect; 60–80 cm long. Leaves without demarcation between sheath and blade. Leaf-sheaths without keel; hirsute. Ligule a ciliate membrane; 0.2–0.6 mm long. Leaf-blades flat, or involute; 10–30 cm long; 2–6 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous; hairless except near base. Leaf-blade apex pungent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; pyramidal; 9–13 cm long; 10–14 cm wide. Primary panicle branches spreading.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; 2.7–2.8 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.5 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5 -veined; obtuse. Palea of lower sterile floret pubescent; adorned on keels. Fertile lemma elliptic; dorsally compressed; 2.2–2.4 mm long; indurate; yellow; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Palea involute; indurate.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: northern South America.

NOTES Paniceae. Swallen 1995.

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