Panicum inconspicuum

HABIT Annual. Culms geniculately ascending; 15–30 cm long; rooting from lower nodes. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface; outer margin hairy. Ligule an eciliate membrane; lacerate. Leaf-blades elliptic; 1.5–6 cm long; 5–10 mm wide; membranous. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pilose; hairy on both sides; with tubercle-based hairs.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle. Peduncle 5–7 cm long.

Panicle open; ovate; 4–10 cm long. Primary panicle branches 1 -nate. Panicle branches capillary; scaberulous.

Spikelets solitary, or in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 0.5–7 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; obtuse; 1.3–1.5 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.4–0.7 mm long; 0.33–0.5 length of spikelet; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume surface puberulous. Lower glume apex obtuse, or acute. Upper glume elliptic; 1.3–1.5 mm long; 1 length of spikelet; herbaceous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume surface puberulous.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 3–5 -veined; puberulous. Fertile lemma elliptic; dorsally compressed; 1.3–1.5 mm long; indurate; light brown; shiny; without keel. Lemma surface smooth. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex apiculate. Palea involute; indurate.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: western Indian ocean.

NOTES Paniceae. Vorontsova 2014.

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