Panicum tsaratananense

HABIT Annual; caespitose; clumped densely. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 5–20 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Lateral branches ample. Leaf-sheaths loose; striately veined; glabrous on surface, or pilose. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 1.5–2.5 cm long; 1–2.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pilose. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; linear; loose; 0.5–1.5 cm long; bearing few spikelets.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 2.5–4 mm long; ciliate; with 2–2.5 mm long hairs.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; 1.4–1.5 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes similar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.25 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels. Upper glume elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5 -veined. Fertile lemma oblong; dorsally compressed; 1.3–1.4 mm long; indurate; pallid; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute. Palea involute; indurate.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: western Indian ocean.

NOTES Paniceae. Camus 2007.

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