GrassBase - The Online World Grass Flora

Descriptions

W.D. Clayton, M. Vorontsova, K.T. Harman & H. Williamson

© Copyright The Board of Trustees, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Panicum missionum

HABIT Perennial. Culms rambling; 30–120 cm long. Culm-internodes 2–12 cm long. Culm-nodes glabrous, or pubescent. Lateral branches ample; arising from lower culm. Leaf-sheaths 1.5–5 cm long; mostly shorter than adjacent culm internode; pilose; with tubercle-based hairs. Leaf-sheath oral hairs lacking. Ligule a ciliate membrane. Leaf-blade base symmetrical; with a false petiole. Leaf-blades linear, or lanceolate; 4–12 cm long; 5–11 mm wide. Leaf-blade midrib conspicuous. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pubescent; hairy on both sides. Leaf-blade margins scabrous; ciliate; hairy at base. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; terminal and axillary. Axillary inflorescences different from terminal (cleistogamous); compact, or enclosed.

Panicle open; ovate; 17–24 cm long; 12–18 cm wide. Primary panicle branches spreading. Panicle axis scabrous; with scattered hairs, or pubescent. Panicle branches scabrous; glabrous, or pubescent; pubescent in axils.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; 2.4–3.1 mm long; 1–1.5 mm wide; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 1.6–2.8 mm long; 0.75–0.8 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. 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 elliptic; dorsally compressed; 2–2.6 mm long; indurate; yellow; without keel. Lemma surface papillose. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex apiculate. Palea involute; indurate.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil and southern South America.

NOTES Paniceae. Fl Paraguay 1995.

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