Panicum xerophilum

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Culms 5–80 cm long. Culm-internodes distally pilose. Culm-nodes bearded. Lateral branches lacking, or sparse. Leaves cauline. Leaf-sheaths puberulous, or pilose; with tubercle-based hairs. Ligule a ciliate membrane; 0.5–2 mm long. Leaf-blades flat; 3–18 cm long; 1–8 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface puberulous, or pilose; with tubercle-based hairs.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; lanceolate, or elliptic; 3–25 cm long. Primary panicle branches ascending. Panicle branches scabrous; with scattered hairs, or glabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; acute, or acuminate; 1.5–3.2(–3.7) mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5–7 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; elliptic; 0.9 length of spikelet; membranous; 7 -veined; acute. Palea of lower sterile floret 0.25–0.33 length of lemma. Fertile lemma elliptic; dorsally compressed; 1.2–1.7 mm long; indurate; shiny; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.7–1.2 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Pacific: north-central.

NOTES Paniceae. Wagner 1993.

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