Panicum steyermarkii

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes short. Culms geniculately ascending; 40–85 cm long; wiry. Leaves mostly basal. Leaf-sheaths loose; glabrous on surface. Leaf-sheath auricles erect. Ligule a fringe of hairs, or absent; 0–1 mm long. Leaf-blades erect; flat, or involute; 20–25 cm long; 5–6 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade apex attenuate; pungent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 6–9 cm long. Primary panicle branches ascending; 2–5 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; acute, or acuminate; 3.5–4 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; 1–3 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent, or distinct. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels. 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; acute. Fertile lemma elliptic; dorsally compressed; 3 mm long; indurate; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acuminate. 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.