Panicum stoloniferum

HABIT Perennial. Culms prostrate; 10–50 cm long. Culm-internodes distally with pubescent line (2 lines). Culm-nodes glabrous, or pubescent. Lateral branches ample. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface; outer margin hairy. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.2 mm long; erose. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 1–5 cm long; 3–15 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pilose; sparsely hairy; hairy adaxially. Leaf-blade margins undulate. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes borne along a central axis; unilateral; 0.5–1 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 0.5–4 cm long; pubescent.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; dorsally compressed; 2.3–2.5 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.33 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume ovate; 0.75 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scabrous. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5 -veined; scabrous; rough on midvein; acute. Palea of lower sterile floret 0.5 length of lemma. Fertile lemma elliptic; dorsally compressed; 1.3 mm long; indurate; shiny; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute. Palea involute; indurate.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Mexico. South America: Mesoamericana, Caribbean, northern South America, western South America, Brazil, and southern South America.

NOTES Paniceae. Chase 1994.

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