Panicum parapaurochaetium

HABIT Annual. Rhizomes elongated. Culms decumbent; slender; 15–25 cm long. Leaf-sheaths loose; striately veined; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blade base with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath. Leaf-blades linear, or lanceolate; 9–13 cm long; 5–7 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation with 6–8 secondary veins; with obscure cross veins. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong; loose; 11–15 cm long. Primary panicle branches 5–7 -nate.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets sessile.

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

GLUMES Glumes similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; clasping; 0.25–0.33 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 9 -veined. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume ovate; 1.8 mm long; 0.66 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels. 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. Fertile lemma lanceolate, or oblong; dorsally compressed; 2.2 mm long; indurate; pallid; without keel. 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.