Panicum subhystrix

HABIT Annual. Culms erect; weak; 7–14 cm long. Culm-internodes distally pilose. Lateral branches sparse. Leaf-sheaths pilose. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blades 2–5 cm long; 1–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pilose. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 1–2.5 cm long; bearing few spikelets. Panicle branches pilose.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 1.5–2 mm long; scaberulous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; subacute; 1.5 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes similar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate, or ovate; 1.3–1.4 mm long; 0.9 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface pilose. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1.5 mm long; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume surface pilose. Upper glume hairs 0.5–0.7 mm long. 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; 5 -veined; pilose; acute. Fertile lemma ovate; dorsally compressed; gibbous; 1 mm long; indurate; pallid; without keel. Lemma surface tuberculate, or striate. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute. Palea involute; indurate.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: western Indian ocean.

NOTES Paniceae. Camus 1994.

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