Panicum torridum

HABIT Annual. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 20–60 cm long. Culm-internodes distally pubescent, or hirsute. Leaf-sheaths pubescent, or hirsute. Ligule a ciliate membrane; 1 mm long. Leaf-blades 10–20 cm long; 4–10 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pubescent, or hirsute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; elliptic, or oblong; dense; 3–15 cm long; 1–4 cm wide. Primary panicle branches ascending; bearing spikelets almost to the base. Panicle axis villous. Panicle branches villous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels villous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; acuminate; 3 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.9 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Lower glume surface villous. Lower glume hairs 2–3 mm long. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5–7 -veined. Upper glume surface villous. Upper glume hairs 2–3 mm long. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 7 -veined; glabrous, or villous; hairy above; acute. Palea of lower sterile floret 0.5 length of lemma. Fertile lemma elliptic; dorsally compressed; 1.5 mm long; indurate; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Pacific: north-central.

NOTES Paniceae. Hitchcock 1993.

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