Panicum morombense

HABIT Perennial. Culms geniculately ascending; 25–35 cm long. Lateral branches ample. Leaf-sheaths mostly shorter than adjacent culm internode; striately veined. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 7–9 cm long; 4–6 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 10–16 cm long; 3–6 cm wide. Primary panicle branches distant. Panicle branches sinuous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels flexuous; 2–12 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; dorsally compressed; obtuse; 1.5–1.7 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.6–0.7 mm long; 0.5–0.6 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 1-keeled. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous. Fertile lemma ovate; dorsally compressed; 1.2–1.4 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.