Panicum ankarense

HABIT Perennial. Culms erect; slender; 60–70 cm long. Culm-nodes pubescent. Leaf-sheaths striately veined; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; truncate. Leaf-blades 20–25 cm long; 6–9 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pilose; hairy abaxially. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 10–15 cm long. Primary panicle branches ascending; 1 -nate. Panicle branches scaberulous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; dorsally compressed; 4.2–4.5 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma; gaping. Lower glume ovate; 0.33 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 3.8 mm long; 0.7–0.8 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 7 -veined. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; lanceolate; 3.5–4 mm long; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 7 -veined; obtuse. Fertile lemma lanceolate, or oblong; dorsally compressed; 3.2–3.5 mm long; indurate; pallid; shiny; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute. Palea involute; indurate.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: western Indian ocean.

NOTES Paniceae. Camus 2007.

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