Panicum sumatrense

HABIT Annual. Culms erect; 30–100 cm long. Culm-nodes glabrous. Lateral branches sparse, or ample. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule a ciliate membrane; 0.6–1.1 mm long. Collar glabrous. Leaf-blade base broadly rounded. Leaf-blades 10–40 cm long; 5–15 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; oblong; nodding; 5–40 cm long; 1–5 cm wide. Primary panicle branches appressed; 3–15 cm long. Panicle branches scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; acute; 2.5–3.5 mm long; persistent on plant.

GLUMES Glumes reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.7–1.2 mm long; 0.25–0.33 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 1–3 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent, or obscure. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 11–15 -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; 9–13 -veined; acute. Palea of lower sterile floret 0.9 length of lemma. Fertile lemma elliptic; dorsally compressed; 2.2–2.5 mm long; indurate; dark brown; shiny; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1.5 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; 1.8–1.9 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: Caucasus, China, and eastern Asia. Asia-tropical: India, Indo-China, and Malesia.

NOTES Paniceae. Fl Ceyl 1993.

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