Panicum bicuspidatum

HABIT Annual. Rhizomes short. Culms erect; robust; 120 cm long. Culm-internodes striate; distally glabrous. Leaf-sheaths striately veined; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades linear; 15–17 cm long; 6 mm wide. Leaf-blade margins scaberulous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; elliptic; loose; 25–30 cm long. Primary panicle branches ascending; 1 -nate; 7–8 cm long. Panicle branches scaberulous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 2–4 mm long; tip widened.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; 3–3.5 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes similar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma; recurved at apex and gaping. Lower glume ovate; clasping; 1–1.2 mm long; 0.33 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5–7 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins prominent. Upper glume surface asperulous. Upper glume apex cuspidate.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; lanceolate, or ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; scaberulous; cuspidate. Fertile lemma lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 2 mm long; indurate; pallid; shiny; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute. 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.