Panicum smithii

HABIT Perennial. Stolons present. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; slender; 15–35 cm long; 1–2 mm diam.; without nodal roots, or rooting from lower nodes. Culm-nodes glabrous. Leaf-sheaths mostly shorter than adjacent culm internode; striately veined; glabrous on surface; outer margin hairy. Ligule an eciliate membrane; lacerate. Leaf-blades 4–8 cm long; 3–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade midrib indistinct. Leaf-blade surface glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; pyramidal; effuse; 5–15 cm long. Primary panicle branches 7–10 in number; spreading; 3–7 cm long. Panicle axis scaberulous. Panicle branches capillary; scaberulous.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled; 2 in the cluster.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong, or ovate; dorsally compressed; acute; 2–2.3 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; 5 -veined. Lower glume margins ciliolate. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume surface pilose; hairy above. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; oblong; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5 -veined; pilose; hairy above; acute. Fertile lemma elliptic, or obovate; dorsally compressed; 2 mm long; indurate; without keel. Lemma surface smooth. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.75 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: Indo-China.

NOTES Paniceae. Rahman 2005.

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