Panicum auricomum

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes short. Culms erect; slender; 45–60 cm long. Lateral branches ample; arising from upper culm. Leaf-sheaths striately veined; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5 mm long. Leaf-blades linear; 4–8 cm long; 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous; hairless except near base. Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; terminal.

Panicle open; ovate; effuse; 6–8 cm long. Primary panicle branches ascending; 1 -nate. Panicle branches capillary.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

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

GLUMES Glumes reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume elliptic; 0.8–0.9 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Upper glume elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume apex obtuse.

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

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil.

NOTES Paniceae. WDC 2004.

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