Panicum palackyanum

HABIT Annual. Culms prostrate. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Lateral branches ample. Leaf-sheaths loose; striately veined; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; truncate. Leaf-blades spreading; lanceolate; 4.5–8 cm long; 4–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation with 6–8 secondary veins. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade margins scaberulous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong; loose; 10–12 cm long. Primary panicle branches 3–5 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 1–5 mm long; glabrous.

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

GLUMES Glumes similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; clasping; 0.8 mm long; 0.33 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume ovate; 2 mm long; 0.75 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume surface pubescent; hairy at apex. Upper glume apex truncate, or obtuse.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5 -veined; pubescent; hairy at apex; obtuse. Fertile lemma elliptic, or oblong; dorsally compressed; 2 mm long, or 4 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.