Panicum subxerophilum

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Basal innovations extravaginal. Culms erect; 20–70 cm long; wiry; 5 -noded. Culm-internodes scaberulous. Culm-nodes glabrous. Lateral branches lacking, or sparse. Leaf-sheaths smooth, or scaberulous. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1–3.5 mm long; erose; truncate. Leaf-blades flat, or convolute; 2–12 cm long; 1.5–3.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface smooth, or scaberulous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 5–20 cm long; with spikelets clustered towards branch tips. Primary panicle branches spreading; whorled at lower nodes; sparsely divided; 7–13 cm long. Panicle branches capillary; scaberulous; pubescent in axils.

Spikelets solitary, or in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 1–3 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic, or oblong; dorsally compressed; compressed slightly; obtuse; 2–2.75 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.5–0.66 length of spikelet; membranous; much thinner on margins; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Lower glume surface scabrous and tuberculate. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 9 -veined. Upper glume surface scabrous and tuberculate. 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; 7 -veined; prominently veined; scabrous and tuberculate; obtuse, or acute. Fertile lemma elliptic; dorsally compressed; 2–2.5 mm long; indurate; pallid; shiny; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Paniceae. Fl NSW 1993.

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