Panicum subflabellatum

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Cataphylls evident. Rhizomes short. Stolons absent, or present. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 20–50 cm long; wiry. Culm-internodes similar in length. Ligule a ciliate membrane. Leaf-blades appressed, or ascending; linear, or lanceolate; flat, or involute; 3–7 cm long; 2–3 mm wide; stiff; glaucous. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade apex pungent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong; 2.5–6 cm long. Primary panicle branches ascending.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets orbicular; dorsally compressed; obtuse; 1.3–1.7 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; gibbous; 0.5 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. 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; 5–7 -veined; obtuse. Fertile lemma oblong; dorsally compressed; 1.5 mm long; indurate; pallid; dull; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea involute; indurate.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: east tropical, southern tropical, and south.

NOTES Paniceae. FTEA.

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