Panicum sublaeve

HABIT Perennial. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 15–20 cm long. Lateral branches lacking, or sparse. Leaf-sheaths longer than adjacent culm internode; keeled; glabrous on surface. Ligule a ciliate membrane; 1 mm long. Leaf-blade base broadly rounded. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 8–10 cm long; 5–10 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pilose; hairy adaxially; with tubercle-based hairs. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; exserted, or embraced at base by subtending leaf.

Panicle open; ovate; 5–8 cm long. Primary panicle branches ascending, or spreading. Panicle branches stiff.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

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

GLUMES Glumes reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; clasping; 1.5 mm long; 0.33–0.5 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 11 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 11 -veined; acute. Fertile lemma elliptic; dorsally compressed; 3 mm long; indurate; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute; pubescent (sparsely). Palea involute; indurate.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Mexico. South America: Mesoamericana.

NOTES Paniceae. Swallen 1995.

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