Panicum incomtum

HABIT Perennial. Culms rambling; 100–1500 cm long; rooting from lower nodes. Culm-nodes swollen. Lateral branches sparse. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface, or pilose. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blade base broadly rounded, or cordate. Leaf-blades ascending; 30–40 cm long; 10–20 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pubescent; hairy abaxially. Leaf-blade margins scaberulous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; elliptic, or globose; dense; 8–35 cm long. Primary panicle branches whorled at most nodes. Panicle branches capillary; tangled; viscid; smooth; pubescent in axils.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; dorsally compressed; obtuse; 1.3–2 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma; dull. Lower glume oblong, or ovate; clasping; 0.6–1 mm long; 0.75 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume ovate, or orbicular; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins prominent. Upper glume surface pubescent; hairy at apex. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; ovate, or orbicular; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5 -veined; prominently veined; pubescent; hairy at apex; obtuse. Palea of lower sterile floret 1 length of lemma. Fertile lemma oblong, or ovate; dorsally compressed; 1.3–2 mm long; indurate; shiny; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China and eastern Asia. Asia-tropical: India, Indo-China, Malesia, and Papuasia. Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Paniceae. Fl Assam 1993.

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