Panicum vatovae

HABIT Perennial. Rootstock evident. Culms geniculately ascending; slender; 50–70 cm long; wiry. Lateral branches fastigiate. Leaf-sheaths pubescent. Ligule a ciliate membrane. Leaf-blades spreading, or reflexed; deciduous at the ligule; linear, or lanceolate; 3–10 cm long; 5–8 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pubescent; hairy on both sides. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 3–8 cm long. Primary panicle branches simple.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; dorsally compressed; obtuse; 3–3.8 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes similar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate, or oblong; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; dark green; without keels; 3(–5) -veined. Lower glume lateral veins ribbed. Lower glume surface pubescent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume oblong; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; dark green; without keels; 7(–9) -veined. Upper glume lateral veins ribbed. Upper glume surface pubescent. 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; 7 -veined; acute. Fertile lemma oblong; dorsally compressed; 3–3.8 mm long; indurate; pallid; shiny; without keel. Lemma surface smooth. Lemma margins involute. Palea involute; indurate.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: northeast tropical.

NOTES Paniceae. Fl Eth 1997.

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