Panicum oligoadenotrichum

HABIT Annual. Culms erect; slender; 50–70 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Culm-nodes pubescent. Lateral branches ample. Leaf-sheaths mostly shorter than adjacent culm internode; striately veined; puberulous. Leaf-sheath oral hairs scanty. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades linear, or lanceolate; 6–11 cm long; 8–10 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation prominent; with 4–6 secondary veins; with obscure cross veins. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or puberulous. Leaf-blade margins scaberulous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; pyramidal; effuse; 12–15 cm long; 7–10 cm wide. Primary panicle branches spreading; 1 -nate; 4–5 cm long. Panicle branches pilose; with capitate hairs.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 0.1–4 mm long; bearing a few hairs.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; subacute; 3 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes similar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; clasping; 1.4–1.5 mm long; 0.5 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 9 -veined.

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 lanceolate, or oblong; dorsally compressed; 1.2–1.4 mm long; indurate; pallid; without keel. Lemma surface granulose. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex mucronate. 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.