Panicum tenuifolium

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 35–120 cm long. Culm-internodes distally pilose; with tubercle-based hairs. Culm-nodes glabrous, or bearded. Lateral branches lacking. Leaves cauline. Leaf-sheaths pilose; with tubercle-based hairs. Ligule a ciliate membrane; 0.3–1.1 mm long. Leaf-blades flat, or involute; 5–20 cm long; 1–5(–7) mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pilose; with tubercle-based hairs.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 5–30 cm long. Primary panicle branches ascending, or spreading; 1 -nate. Panicle branches scabrous; glabrous, or pilose; pubescent in axils, or bearded in axils.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; acute, or acuminate; 2.1–3.6 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5–7 -veined. Lower glume apex acute, or acuminate. Upper glume elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 7 -veined. 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; 5–7 -veined; acute. Palea of lower sterile floret 0.33–0.5 length of lemma. Fertile lemma lanceolate, or elliptic; dorsally compressed; 1.7–1.8 mm long; indurate; shiny; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1–1.2 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Pacific: north-central.

NOTES Paniceae. Wagner 1993.

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