Panicum neohumbertii

HABIT Perennial. Culms geniculately ascending. Culm-internodes 3–5 cm long. Lateral branches ample. Leaf-sheaths 3–4 cm long; striately veined; hirsute. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 7–8 cm long; 15–20 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface hirsute. Leaf-blade margins scaberulous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; terminal and axillary.

Panicle open; lanceolate. Primary panicle branches 4–5 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 1–2 mm long; ciliate; hairy at tip.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate, or oblong; dorsally compressed; acute; 1.2–1.5 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; clasping; 0.4–0.5 mm long; 0.33 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume lanceolate; 1.2–1.5 mm long; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume surface pilose; hairy at apex. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; lanceolate; 1.2–1.5 mm long; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5 -veined; pilose; hairy at apex; acute. Fertile lemma lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 1.2 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.