Panicum spergulifolium

HABIT Perennial. Stolons present. Culms erect; 20–25 cm long. Lateral branches ample. Leaves cauline; distichous. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blades erect; flat, or involute; 1–3 cm long; 1.5 mm wide; yellowish green. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pilose; sparsely hairy. Leaf-blade margins ciliate. Leaf-blade apex obtuse.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 3–6 cm long; 2–5 cm wide. Panicle branches capillary.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 9–12 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; dorsally compressed; obtuse; 3.5–3.8 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 1.8–2 mm long; 0.5 length of spikelet; membranous; purple; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume ovate; 2.4–2.7 mm long; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; purple; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume surface puberulous; hairy at apex. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; purple; 7 -veined; puberulous; hairy at apex; obtuse. Fertile lemma oblong, or ovate; dorsally compressed; 3.5 mm long; indurate; yellow; shiny; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 2.5 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: western Indian ocean.

NOTES Paniceae. Camus 1994.

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