Panicum atrosanguineum

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Culms 10–40 cm long. Leaf-sheaths hispid. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blades lanceolate; parallel-sided; 6–14 cm long; 5–14 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface hispid, or pilose; with tubercle-based hairs. Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong, or ovate; 6–20 cm long. Primary panicle branches spreading. Panicle branches capillary.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; dorsally compressed; acuminate; 1.8–2.2 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes similar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.66 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5–7 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5–7 -veined; acute. Fertile lemma oblong; dorsally compressed; 1.5–2 mm long; indurate; dark brown to black; shiny; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea involute; indurate.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: west-central tropical, northeast tropical, east tropical, southern tropical, and south. Asia-temperate: Arabia. Asia-tropical: India and Indo-China.

NOTES Paniceae. FTEA.

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