Panicum telmatum

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms leaning; 50–100 cm long. Culm-internodes terete; distally pubescent. Culm-nodes pubescent. Leaf-sheaths pilose; with tubercle-based hairs; outer margin hairy. Ligule a ciliate membrane; 1–1.5 mm long. Collar pubescent. Leaf-blade base broadly rounded. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 3.5–5.5 cm long; 4–9 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous; hairless except near base. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

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

Panicle open; pyramidal; 3–5 cm long. Panicle axis pilose. Panicle branches pilose.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels ciliate.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; 3–3.2 mm long; 1.2–1.4 mm wide; falling entire. Rhachilla internodes elongated between glumes.

GLUMES Glumes similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 2–2.3 mm long; 0.75 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 7–9 -veined. Upper glume surface puberulous. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 7–9 -veined; puberulous; acute. Palea of lower sterile floret 0.66 length of lemma. Fertile lemma elliptic; dorsally compressed; 2.3–2.5 mm long; 1.1 mm wide; indurate; without keel; 7 -veined. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute; pubescent. Palea involute; indurate.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: northern South America.

NOTES Paniceae. Zuloaga 1994.

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