Panicum juniperinum

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Culms decumbent; slender; without nodal roots, or rooting from lower nodes. Culm-internodes terete. Lateral branches ample. Leaves cauline. Leaf-sheaths 0.4–0.5 cm long; longer than adjacent culm internode; striately veined; glabrous on surface. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 0.2 mm long. Leaf-blade base broadly rounded. Leaf-blades appressed; ovate; 0.6–1 cm long; coriaceous. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pilose. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle, or comprising only a few spikelets; comprising 1–8 fertile spikelets.

Panicle open; ovate; 1 cm long; bearing few spikelets.

Spikelets solitary, or in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 2.25 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; dorsally compressed; 2–2.5 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes similar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 1.5–2.5 mm long; 0.75–1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 1–3 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent, or distinct. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 0.75–1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 3–5 -veined; acute. Fertile lemma ovate; dorsally compressed; 2–2.5 mm long; indurate; shiny; without keel. Lemma surface smooth. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1.25 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: western Indian ocean.

NOTES Paniceae. Fl Masc 2007.

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