Panicum turgidum

HABIT Perennial. Cataphylls evident. Culms 40–100(–200) cm long; 1–6 mm diam.; woody. Culm-internodes solid; glaucous. Lateral branches suffrutescent. Ligule a ciliate membrane. Leaf-blades deciduous at the ligule; (0.5–)2–15 cm long; 1–6 mm wide; coriaceous; stiff; glaucous. Leaf-blade apex pungent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; pyramidal; 2.5–15(–30) cm long; contracted about primary branches. Primary panicle branches spreading; distant; bearing spikelets almost to the base.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; dorsally compressed; compressed slightly; acute, or acuminate; (3.1–)3.4–4.5(–5) mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes similar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma; gaping. Lower glume ovate; 0.75–1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5–9 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 7–9 -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; 9–11 -veined; acute. Fertile lemma oblong; dorsally compressed; 3 mm long; indurate; pallid, or yellow; shiny; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 2 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: north, west tropical, and northeast tropical. Asia-temperate: western Asia and Arabia. Asia-tropical: India.

NOTES Paniceae. FTA.

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