Panicum vohitrense

HABIT Annual. Culms geniculately ascending; 20–25 cm long; rooting from lower nodes. Culm-nodes pubescent. Leaf-sheaths striately veined; pilose; outer margin hairy. Leaf-sheath auricles erect. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 2.5–4.5 cm long; 8–10 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation with distinct cross veins. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade apex acute, or acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; lanceolate; loose; 5–8 cm long. Primary panicle branches appressed; 3 cm long. Panicle axis glabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 5–7 mm long; glabrous; tip widened.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 1.6–1.8 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.6–0.7 mm long; 0.33 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume ovate; 1.4 mm long; 0.9 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; oblong, or ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5 -veined; acute. Fertile lemma ovate; dorsally compressed; 1.3–1.4 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.