Panicum hirtum

HABIT Annual. Culms geniculately ascending, or decumbent; 20–80 cm long. Ligule a ciliate membrane. Leaf-blade base amplexicaul. Leaf-blades ovate; 8–12 cm long; 10–25 mm wide; membranous. Leaf-blade venation with distinct cross veins. Leaf-blade surface pilose. Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong, or ovate; dense; 7–15 cm long. Primary panicle branches spreading. Panicle branches capillary; tangled; glandular.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; straight, or tilted on the pedicel; dorsally compressed; gibbous; acute; 1.5 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblong; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume surface pubescent, or pilose. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; herbaceous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume surface pubescent, or pilose. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; ovate; 1 length of spikelet; hyaline; 5 -veined; acute. Fertile lemma oblong; dorsally compressed; 1 mm long; indurate; pallid; without keel. Lemma surface papillose. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea involute; indurate.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: west tropical, west-central tropical, northeast tropical, east tropical, southern tropical, and south. South America: Mesoamericana, Caribbean, northern South America, western South America, and Brazil.

NOTES Paniceae. =Panicum heterostachyum. FTEA.

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