Panicum malacophyllum

HABIT Perennial. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 30–70 cm long. Culm-internodes distally pilose. Culm-nodes bearded. Lateral branches fastigiate. Leaves basal and cauline; heterophyllous with a basal winter rosette. Leaf-sheaths pilose; with tubercle-based hairs and reflexed hairs. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 1–1.5 mm long. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 6–10 cm long; 5–12 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pubescent. Leaf-blade margins ciliate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; terminal and axillary.

Panicle open; ovate; 3–7 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong, or obovate; with obtuse base; dorsally compressed; obtuse; 2.6–3.2 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.33–0.5 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume oblong; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 7–9 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins prominent. Upper glume surface pilose; with tubercle-based hairs. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; oblong; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 7–9 -veined; prominently veined; pilose; with tubercle-based hairs; obtuse. Fertile lemma oblong, or obovate; dorsally compressed; 2.6–3.2 mm long; indurate; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea involute; indurate.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION North America: north-central USA, south-central USA, and southeast USA.

NOTES Paniceae. Gr Texas 1994.

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