Panicum calocarpum

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Culms erect; 50–75 cm long; 4–5 -noded. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 3–13 cm long; 2–3 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong; effuse; 8–12 cm long. Primary panicle branches 3–8 cm long. Panicle branches capillary.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform; 4–15 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; dorsally compressed; obtuse; 2.5 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes similar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.75–0.8 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. 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 elliptic; dorsally compressed; 1.5 mm long; indurate; pallid; without keel. Lemma surface striate. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute; papillose. Palea involute; indurate.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: west tropical.

NOTES Paniceae. FWTA.

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