Panicum wilcoxianum

HABIT Perennial. Culms erect; 10–25 cm long. Culm-internodes distally hirsute. Lateral branches ample. Leaves heterophyllous with a basal winter rosette. Leaf-sheaths hirsute; with tubercle-based hairs. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1 mm long. Leaf-blades 5–8 cm long; 3–6 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface hirsute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong; 2–5 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; 2.7–3 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.33 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels. Lower glume surface puberulous. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 7 -veined. Upper glume surface puberulous. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 9 -veined; pubescent. Fertile lemma elliptic; dorsally compressed; 2.7–3 mm long; indurate; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Palea involute; indurate.

DISTRIBUTION North America: western Canada, northwest USA, north-central USA, and south-central USA.

NOTES Paniceae. Man US Grass 2004.

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