Panicum mandrarense

HABIT Perennial. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 30–35 cm long. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blade base simple, or broadly rounded, or cordate. Leaf-blades 10–15 cm long; 5–6.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pubescent, or pilose; hairy on both sides; with tubercle-based hairs. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong; 4.5–6 cm long. Primary panicle branches appressed; 4–5 cm long. Panicle branches flexuous; glabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform; 1–2 mm long; tip widened.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; dorsally compressed; 2.5 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma; recurved at apex and gaping. Lower glume ovate; clasping; 0.33 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate, or ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5–7 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; lanceolate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 7 -veined; acute; mucronate. Fertile lemma elliptic; dorsally compressed; 1.6–1.7 mm long; indurate; pallid; shiny; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. 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.