Panicum sabiense

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes elongated; scaly; hairy. Culms 40–100 cm long; wiry. Lateral branches lacking, or sparse. Leaf-sheaths pilose. Ligule a ciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 9–27 cm long; 2–6 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pilose; sparsely hairy. Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong; 8–18 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; dorsally compressed; obtuse; 2.4–2.8 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.33 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5 -veined; without grooves. Fertile lemma oblong; dorsally compressed; 2.4–2.8 mm long; indurate; without keel. Lemma surface rugose. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea involute; indurate. Palea surface rugose.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: southern tropical.

NOTES Paniceae. FZ 2007.

Please cite this publication as detailed in How to Cite Version: 3rd February 2016.