Panicum petilum

HABIT Perennial. Culms decumbent; slender; 30–40 cm long. Lateral branches ample. Leaf-sheaths subequal to internodes; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.1 mm long. Leaf-blades involute; 1.5–2.5 cm long; 1–2 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 1.5–3 cm long; bearing few spikelets. Primary panicle branches ascending, or spreading, or reflexed.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

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

GLUMES Glumes reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.5 mm long; 0.5 length of spikelet; membranous; 3 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5 -veined; obtuse. Fertile lemma ovate; dorsally compressed; 1 mm long; indurate; pallid; without keel. Lemma surface papillose. Lemma margins involute. Palea involute; indurate.

DISTRIBUTION South America: western South America.

NOTES Paniceae. Swallen 2002.

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