Panicum sanctaluciense

HABIT Annual. Culms rambling; slender; 14–120 cm long; rooting from lower nodes. Leaves cauline. Leaf-sheaths pilose; with tubercle-based hairs; outer margin hairy. Ligule a ciliate membrane. Leaf-blade base amplexicaul. Leaf-blades elliptic; 3–6 cm long; 5–12 mm wide. Leaf-blade margins cartilaginous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle obovate. Primary panicle branches 1–3 -nate. Panicle branches pubescent in axils.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; dorsally compressed; 1.8–2.5 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.5 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; (1–)3 -veined. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 9 -veined.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 9–11 -veined. Fertile lemma oblong; dorsally compressed; 1.5–2 mm long; indurate; pallid, or yellow; shiny; without keel. Lemma surface pilose; hairy above (sparsely). Lemma margins involute. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 1.3 mm long; yellow.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: south.

NOTES Paniceae. Fish 2011.

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