Panicum ambongense

HABIT Annual. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 20–35 cm long; 4–5 -noded. Leaf-sheaths striately veined; glabrous on surface; outer margin glabrous, or hairy. Leaf-sheath oral hairs scanty, or ciliate. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades linear; conduplicate; 15–20 cm long; 3–4.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pilose; sparsely hairy. Leaf-blade margins scaberulous. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong; 6–30 cm long. Primary panicle branches ascending; 5–10 cm long. Panicle axis scaberulous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform; 2–5 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 2–2.1 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes similar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma; recurved at apex and gaping. Lower glume ovate; clasping; 1.2–1.5 mm long; 0.66–0.75 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Lower glume surface asperulous. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; keel-less except near apex; 5–7 -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; 6 -veined; obscurely veined; truncate. Fertile lemma elliptic; dorsally compressed; 1.2–1.5 mm long; indurate; pallid; shiny; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Palea involute; indurate.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: western Indian ocean.

NOTES Paniceae. Camus 2007.

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