Panicum volutans

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped loosely. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 50–75 cm long; without nodal roots, or rooting from lower nodes. Ligule a ciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 10–25 cm long; 5–10 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface hispid; with tubercle-based hairs.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; embraced at base by subtending leaf.

Panicle open; obovate; effuse; 20–30 cm long; with spikelets clustered towards branch tips. Primary panicle branches ascending. Panicle branches stiff.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; acuminate; (5.5–)6–6.5(–7) mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.75 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 7–9 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; ovate; 0.75 length of spikelet; membranous; 7 -veined; acute. Fertile lemma elliptic; dorsally compressed; 2.5–3 mm long; indurate; grey; shiny; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute. Palea involute; indurate.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: south.

NOTES Paniceae. Gr S Afr 1993.

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