Panicum tricholaenoides

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes short. Culms robust; 150–200 cm long. Culm-internodes terete; hollow. Lateral branches ample. Leaf-sheaths 8–15 cm long; outer margin hairy. Ligule a ciliate membrane; 1.5 mm long. Leaf-blades involute, or convolute; 25–35 cm long; 7 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous to pubescent; sparsely hairy. Leaf-blade margins ciliate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; pyramidal; nodding; 30–40 cm long. Primary panicle branches profusely divided.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels ciliate; hairy at tip.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; dorsally compressed; 2.3–3 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma; gaping. Lower glume ovate; 1.5–2.1 mm long; 0.5 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5–7 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5 -veined; acute. Fertile lemma elliptic; dorsally compressed; 1.5–2 mm long; 1.5 mm wide; indurate; pallid; shiny; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins distinct. Lemma margins involute. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 1 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ovoid; yellow. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION South America: northern South America, western South America, Brazil, and southern South America.

NOTES Paniceae. Fl Entre Rios 1995.

ADDITIONAL CHARACTERS Margins of lower palea inturned.

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