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 ruspolii

HABIT Perennial. Cataphylls evident. Rhizomes short. Basal innovations extravaginal. Culms 40–80 cm long; woody. Culm-internodes glaucous. Lateral branches fastigiate. Leaf-sheaths longer than adjacent culm internode; glabrous on surface, or pubescent. Ligule a ciliate membrane. Leaf-blades flat, or involute; 15–30 cm long; 4–7 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pilose. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; lanceolate, or obovate; 10–18 cm long; 3–4 cm wide. Primary panicle branches 1–2 -nate; 5–8 cm long. Panicle branches capillary; scaberulous.

Spikelets in pairs, or in threes. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic, or ovate; dorsally compressed; compressed slightly; acuminate; 3.5–4 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma; gaping. Lower glume ovate; 0.5 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3–7 -veined. Lower glume apex acuminate; mucronate. Upper glume lanceolate, or ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 7–9 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate; mucronate.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; lanceolate, or ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 9 -veined; acuminate. Fertile lemma oblong; dorsally compressed; 2.5–3 mm long; chartaceous, or indurate; pallid, or yellow; shiny; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse, or acute. Palea involute; chartaceous, or indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 2 mm long; purple. Stigmas purple.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: northeast tropical.

NOTES Paniceae. FTA 1993.

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