Panicum tenellum

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Culms erect; slender; 10–35 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades filiform, or linear; flat, or involute; 2.5–9 cm long; 1.5–3 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong, or ovate; 3–11 cm long. Panicle branches capillary.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblanceolate, or ovate, or orbicular; dorsally compressed; 1–1.5 mm long; falling entire; readily shedding fertile florets.

GLUMES Glumes similar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume surface glabrous, or pubescent. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume surface glabrous, or pubescent. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5 -veined; glabrous, or pubescent; obtuse. Fertile lemma oblong; dorsally compressed; 1–1.5 mm long; chartaceous; pallid; without keel. Lemma surface tuberculate (verruculose). Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea involute; chartaceous. Palea surface tuberculate (verruculose).

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: Macaronesia, west tropical, west-central tropical, and southern tropical.

NOTES Paniceae. =Panicum lindleyanum. FZ.

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