Panicum luridum

HABIT Perennial. Culms geniculately ascending, or decumbent; 20–60 cm long. Lateral branches sparse. Leaves mostly basal. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blades linear, or lanceolate; 3–6 cm long; 3–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pilose; sparsely hairy. Leaf-blade margins ciliate; hairy at base.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 3–5 cm long. Primary panicle branches 1 -nate. Panicle branches scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; obtuse; 2 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 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5 -veined; obtuse. Fertile lemma ovate; dorsally compressed; 2 mm long; indurate; yellow; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute. Palea involute; indurate.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: western Indian ocean.

NOTES Paniceae. Hackel 1994.

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