Panicum L.

Gramineae, W. D. Clayton, S. M. Phillips And S. A. Renvoize. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1974

Habit

Annuals or perennials

Leaves

Leaf-blades rolled or flat, linear to ovate; ligule a short ciliate membranous rim

Inflorescences

Inflorescence a panicle, usually much branched but occasionally contracted about the primary branches

Spikelets

Spikelets usually spherical, ovate or oblong; glumes hyaline to membranous, usually the lower shorter than, and the upper as long as the spikelet; lower floret ♂ or barren, its lemma usually resembling the upper glume, with or without a palea; upper lemma ± as long as the spikelet, crustaceous, not crested, the margins inrolled and clasping only the edges of the palea

Fruits

Caryopsis ± ellipsoid, dorsally compressed.

Gramineae, W. D. Clayton. Flora Zambesiaca 10:3. 1989

Spikelets

Spikelets spherical, ovate, lanceolate or oblong.

Glume

Glumes hyaline to membranous, usually the inferior shorter than and the superior as long as the spikelet.

Florets

Inferior floret male or barren, its lemma usually resembling the superior glume, with or without a palea.

Lemma

Superior lemma as long as or shorter than the spikelet, crustaceous, the margins involute and clasping only the edges of the palea.

Fruits

Caryopsis more or less ellipsoid, dorsally compressed.

Habit

Annuals or perennials.

Leaf lamina

Leaf laminae involute or flat, linear to ovate.

Inflorescences

Inflorescence a panicle, usually much branched but occasionally contracted about the primary branches.

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Habit

Annual (132), or perennial (340). Rhizomes absent (395), or short (42), or elongated (27). Stolons absent (452), or present (15). Culms erect (201/365), or geniculately ascending (103/365), or decumbent (93/365), or prostrate (12/365), or rambling (48/365), or arching (1/365), or leaning (4/365), or scandent (4/365); reed-like (1/112), or robust (25/112), or of moderate stature (2/112), or slender (74/112), or weak (14/112); 1-77.45-1550 cm long; spongy (5), or compressible (5), or firm (418), or wiry (30), or woody (7); without nodal roots (17/100), or with prop roots (2/100), or rooting from lower nodes (98/100). Culm-internodes similar in length (1/5), or shorter and closely spaced at top of culm (1/5), or unequal, the upper longer (1/5), or unequal, the lower longer (1/5), or alternately elongated and bunched (1/5); terete (27/42), or channelled (2/42), or elliptical in section (15/42). Culm-nodes constricted (23/30), or flush with internodes (1/30), or swollen (6/30). Lateral branches lacking (57/209), or sparse (53/209), or ample (110/209), or fastigiate (9/209), or suffrutescent (4/209). Leaves differentiated into sheath and blade (450), or without demarcation between sheath and blade (12), or with sheath almost obsolete (1). Leaf-sheath auricles absent (458), or erect (6). Ligule an eciliate membrane (58), or a ciliolate membrane (72), or a ciliate membrane (253), or a fringe of hairs (68), or absent (23). Leaf-blade base without a false petiole (449), or with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath (12), or with a false petiole (3). Leaf-blades persistent (459), or deciduous at the ligule (5); aciculate (3), or filiform (12), or linear (284), or lanceolate (215), or elliptic (5), or oblong (8), or ovate (25), or triangular (1); membranous (16), or herbaceous (435), or coriaceous (13); stiff (49), or firm (406), or flaccid (10). Leaf-blade midrib indistinct (9/33), or evident (6/33), or conspicuous (16/33), or widened (2/33). Leaf-blade venation without cross veins (444), or with obscure cross veins (6), or with distinct cross veins (17). Leaf-blade margins cartilaginous (14/14). Leaf-blade apex muticous (435), or pungent (30).

Inflorescences

Synflorescence simple (462), or compound (1); fasciculate (1/1). Inflorescence a panicle (444), or composed of racemes (16), or comprising only a few spikelets (4); terminal (421), or terminal and axillary (43); not deciduous as a whole (458/462), or deciduous as a whole (4/462); subtended by an unspecialized leaf-sheath (461), or an inflated leaf-sheath (1), or a spatheole (1); exserted (440), or embraced at base by subtending leaf (32), or enclosed (1). Spatheole lanceolate (1/1). Peduncle persistent (461), or fracturing (2). Panicle open (417/442), or contracted (26/442), or spiciform (7/442), or capitate (1/442). Primary panicle branches not whorled (419/443), or whorled at lower nodes (22/443), or whorled at most nodes (8/443). Panicle axis bearing persistent branches (443/444), or deciduous branches (1/444). Racemes single (1/16), or borne along a central axis (16/16); appressed (1/16), or ascending (13/16), or spreading (1/16), or drooping (1/16); unilateral (13/14), or paucilateral (1/14); bearing 1-8 fertile spikelets on each (1/1). Central inflorescence axis unspecialized (15/16), or flattened (1/16). Rhachis angular (7/7). Spikelet packing crowded (2/16), or contiguous (14/16); 2 -rowed (1/1). Spikelets appressed (27/32), or ascending (1/32), or spreading (4/32); solitary (433), or in pairs (44), or in threes (2). Fertile spikelets sessile (4/462), or sessile and pedicelled (3/462), or pedicelled (456/462); 1 in the cluster (1/7), or 2 in the cluster (7/7), or 3 in the cluster (1/7). Pedicels filiform (31/47), or oblong (1/47), or clavate (15/47); tip oblique (1/21), or widened (6/21), or discoid (6/21), or cupuliform (8/21).

Spikelets

Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets (461/462), or 2 basal sterile florets (1/462); 1 fertile florets (462), or 2 fertile florets (1); without rhachilla extension (459), or with a barren rhachilla extension (6). Spikelets linear (1), or lanceolate (52), or elliptic (175), or oblong (91), or ovate (166), or orbicular (24), or obovate (30), or oblanceolate (3); of unremarkable solid shape (461), or globose (2); laterally compressed (4), or dorsally compressed (459); symmetrical (450), or gibbous (9), or plano-convex (4); 0.7-2.732-9.2 mm long; persistent on plant (2), or falling entire (460), or breaking up at maturity (1); deciduous from the base (457/460), or with the pedicel (1/460), or with accessory branch structures (3/460). Spikelet callus brief (462), or square (1). Rhachilla internodes brief up to lowest fertile floret (398), or elongated between glumes (64), or elongated below proximal fertile floret (2). Rhachilla elongation stout (1/1). Floret callus brief (457), or evident (6), or elongated (1); without wings (460), or winged (3); with lateral wings (3/3); truncate (1), or obtuse (462).

Fertile

Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets (461/462), or 2 basal sterile florets (1/462); 1 fertile florets (462), or 2 fertile florets (1); without rhachilla extension (459), or with a barren rhachilla extension (6). Spikelets linear (1), or lanceolate (52), or elliptic (175), or oblong (91), or ovate (166), or orbicular (24), or obovate (30), or oblanceolate (3); of unremarkable solid shape (461), or globose (2); laterally compressed (4), or dorsally compressed (459); symmetrical (450), or gibbous (9), or plano-convex (4); 0.7-2.732-9.2 mm long; persistent on plant (2), or falling entire (460), or breaking up at maturity (1); deciduous from the base (457/460), or with the pedicel (1/460), or with accessory branch structures (3/460). Spikelet callus brief (462), or square (1). Rhachilla internodes brief up to lowest fertile floret (398), or elongated between glumes (64), or elongated below proximal fertile floret (2). Rhachilla elongation stout (1/1). Floret callus brief (457), or evident (6), or elongated (1); without wings (460), or winged (3); with lateral wings (3/3); truncate (1), or obtuse (462).

Glume

Glumes one the lower absent or obscure (1), or two (462); shorter than spikelet (63/462), or reaching apex of florets (394/462), or exceeding apex of florets (9/462); thinner than fertile lemma; parallel to lemmas (414), or recurved at apex (6), or gaping (48). Lower glume linear (1/462), or lanceolate (38/462), or elliptic (6/462), or oblong (13/462), or ovate (385/462), or orbicular (4/462), or oblate (25/462), or obovate (3/462); not clasping (16/60), or clasping (44/60); not gibbous (460/462), or gibbous (2/462); hyaline (16/462), or membranous (446/462), or herbaceous (1/462); without keels (456/460), or 1-keeled (4/460); 0-3-11 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent (107/462), or obscure (19/462), or distinct (352/462), or prominent (7/462), or thickened (2/462); without ribs (375/380), or ribbed (5/380). Lower glume surface smooth (447/462), or asperulous (7/462), or scabrous (6/462), or tuberculate (3/462); glabrous (408/462), or puberulous (10/462), or pubescent (30/462), or pilose (29/462), or villous (5/462), or hispid (1/462), or woolly (1/462); without hair tufts (462/462), or with an apical beard (1/462). Lower glume apex entire (458/462), or erose (1/462), or lobed (4/462); 3 -fid (2/2); emarginate (1/447), or truncate (16/447), or obtuse (106/447), or acute (290/447), or acuminate (90/447), or attenuate (1/447), or setaceously attenuate (1/447), or cuspidate (3/447); muticous (453/462), or mucronate (13/462), or awned (5/462). Upper glume lanceolate (24), or elliptic (91), or oblong (31), or ovate (322), or orbicular (3), or obovate (1); not gibbous (462), or gibbous (1); 0.8-1.355-2.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous (458), or herbaceous (4), or cartilaginous (1); with undifferentiated margins (460), or hyaline margins (3); without keels (458), or 1-keeled (5); wingless (462), or winged on margins (1); 3-7-57 -veined. Upper glume primary vein eciliate (462), or pubescent (1). Upper glume lateral veins without ribs (458), or ribbed (5); without cross-veins (1/3), or transversely connected at apex (2/3), or with cross-veins (1/3). Upper glume surface smooth (436), or asperulous (15), or scabrous (6), or papillose (2), or tuberculate (4), or wrinkled (2), or rugose (1); glabrous (366), or puberulous (27), or pubescent (59), or pilose (39), or hirsute (2), or villous (8), or hispidulous (4), or hispid (2), or woolly (1); with simple hairs (123/136), or tubercle-based hairs (13/136); without hair tufts (462), or with an apical beard (2). Upper glume apex entire (459), or lobed (4); 3-4 -fid (1/2), or 5 -fid (2/2); emarginate (1/451), or truncate (1/451), or obtuse (97/451), or acute (288/451), or acuminate (85/451), or attenuate (2/451), or cuspidate (3/451), or laterally pinched (1/451); muticous (458), or mucronate (6), or awned (4); 1 -awned (4/4).

Florets

Basal sterile florets male (172/462), or barren (308/462); with palea (323/447), or without significant palea (135/447). Lemma of lower sterile floret lanceolate (23/462), or elliptic (105/462), or oblong (28/462), or ovate (313/462), or orbicular (3/462), or obovate (1/462); 0.95-1.116-1.3 length of fertile lemma; hyaline (2/462), or membranous (456/462), or chartaceous (1/462), or herbaceous (1/462), or scarious (1/462), or cartilaginous (1/462); 3-6-15 -veined; without ribs (460/462), or ribbed (2/462); without grooves (461/462), or sulcate (1/462); truncate (2/435), or obtuse (73/435), or acute (320/435), or acuminate (55/435), or attenuate (1/435), or cuspidate (2/435); muticous (459/462), or mucronate (4/462). Fertile lemma lanceolate (20), or elliptic (229), or oblong (174), or ovate (56), or orbicular (5), or obovate (13); without auricles (462), or thickened on margins at base (1); dorsally compressed (462/462); not gibbous (462), or gibbous (1); chartaceous (20), or cartilaginous (4), or coriaceous (10), or indurate (430); without keel (461/462), or keeled (1/462); wingless (462), or winged on margins (1); 3-4 -veined (2/36), or 5 -veined (17/36), or 6 -veined (3/36), or 7 -veined (20/36), or 8 -veined (1/36), or 9 -veined (3/36). Lemma lateral veins obscure (3/12), or distinct (7/12), or prominent (2/12). Lemma surface smooth (387), or granulose (5), or asperulous (2), or scaberulous (7), or scabrous (1), or papillose (29), or tuberculate (14), or striate (13), or reticulate (4), or punctate (3); unwrinkled (455), or rugulose (4), or rugose (4); glabrous (452), or puberulous (3), or pubescent (6), or pilose (3); with simple hairs (10/12), or clavate hairs (2/12); without hair tufts (462), or with basal hair tufts near margin (1). Lemma margins flat (1), or involute (455), or convolute (8); eciliate (455), or ciliate (5), or pubescent (2), or pilose (1). Lemma apex obtuse (176/342), or acute (137/342), or acuminate (10/342), or apiculate (24/342), or rostrate (2/342); without ornament (419), or laterally pinched (4), or with a little green crest (7), or with a green spot (1), or with a shallow excavation (1), or papillose (1), or scabrous (8), or pubescent (25), or woolly (2); muticous (458), or mucronate (5). Palea embraced by lemma (462), or reflexed at apex (1); not rolled (1), or involute (462); 1 length of lemma; membranous (1), or chartaceous (20), or cartilaginous (3), or coriaceous (10), or indurate (430). Palea surface glabrous (457), or pubescent (2), or pilose (3), or villous (1).

Flowers

Lodicules 2 (7/7); truncate (3/3). Anthers 2 (3/148), or 3 (146/148).

Fruits

Caryopsis with adherent pericarp (181/181); ellipsoid (44/65), or oblong (8/65), or ovoid (12/65), or orbicular (1/65), or obovoid (5/65). Embryo 0.2-0.4095-0.5 length of caryopsis. Hilum punctiform (25/39), or elliptic (14/39).

Distribution

Europe (6), or Africa (175), or Temperate Asia (27), or Tropical Asia (42), or Australasia (40), or Pacific (26), or North America (108), or South America (198).

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Habit

Annual. Culms erect (1/1), or geniculately ascending (1/1); slender (1/1); 17-50.87-80 cm long. Lateral branches sparse (1/1). Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blades linear (3), or lanceolate (1). Leaf-blade margins cartilaginous (2/2).

Inflorescences

Inflorescence a panicle. Panicle open. Panicle axis bearing deciduous branches. Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels tip cupuliform (2/2).

Spikelets

Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate (1), or elliptic (1), or ovate; dorsally compressed; 2-4.65-7.5 mm long; falling entire. Rhachilla internodes elongated between glumes (2), or elongated below proximal fertile floret. Rhachilla elongation slender.

Fertile

Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate (1), or elliptic (1), or ovate; dorsally compressed; 2-4.65-7.5 mm long; falling entire. Rhachilla internodes elongated between glumes (2), or elongated below proximal fertile floret. Rhachilla elongation slender.

Glume

Glumes shorter than spikelet (3), or reaching apex of florets (1); thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate (1), or elliptic (1), or ovate; membranous; without keels; 3-4 -veined (1), or 5 -veined (2), or 6 -veined (1), or 7 -veined (3). Lower glume surface smooth (3), or scabrous (1); glabrous (3), or pilose (1). Lower glume apex obtuse (1), or acute (3), or acuminate (1); muticous (3), or mucronate (1), or awned (1). Upper glume lanceolate (2), or elliptic (2), or ovate (1); membranous; without keels; 5-6 -veined (1), or 7 -veined (3), or 8 -veined (1), or 9 -veined (2), or 10-11 -veined (1). Upper glume lateral veins without ribs (2), or ribbed (2). Upper glume surface smooth (3), or scabrous (1); glabrous (3), or pilose (1); with tubercle-based hairs (1/1). Upper glume apex acute (1), or acuminate (3); muticous (3), or awned (2); 1 -awned (2/2).

Florets

Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret lanceolate (3), or elliptic (1); membranous; 9 -veined (1/1); without ribs (3), or ribbed (1); acute (1/3), or acuminate (2/3); muticous (3), or awned (2). Fertile lemma elliptic; chartaceous (1), or indurate (3); without keel; 5-7 -veined (1/1). Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse (2/2). Palea membranous (2), or chartaceous (1), or indurate (1).

Flowers

Anthers 3 (3/3).

Fruits

Caryopsis with free brittle pericarp (1/1); dorsally compressed (1/1). Embryo 0.5 length of caryopsis. Hilum punctiform (3/3).

Distribution

Australasia.

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Habit

Annual (6), or perennial (3). Culms erect (5/6), or geniculately ascending (1/6), or decumbent (1/6); 5-40.5-100 cm long. Culm-internodes terete (1/1), or elliptical in section (1/1). Lateral branches lacking (1/4), or sparse (1/4), or ample (2/4). Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blade margins cartilaginous (1/1).

Inflorescences

Inflorescence a panicle; terminal (5), or terminal and axillary (2); exserted (4), or embraced at base by subtending leaf (3). Panicle open (6), or contracted (2). Spikelets solitary, or in pairs (1). Fertile spikelets pedicelled; 1-2 in the cluster (1/1).

Spikelets

Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate (1), or elliptic (6), or oblong (2), or ovate (1), or oblanceolate (2); dorsally compressed; 2.075-4.416-6 mm long; falling entire. Rhachilla internodes brief up to lowest fertile floret (2), or elongated between glumes (5). Floret callus evident; without wings (1), or winged (6); with free apical wings (6/6); truncate.

Fertile

Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate (1), or elliptic (6), or oblong (2), or ovate (1), or oblanceolate (2); dorsally compressed; 2.075-4.416-6 mm long; falling entire. Rhachilla internodes brief up to lowest fertile floret (2), or elongated between glumes (5). Floret callus evident; without wings (1), or winged (6); with free apical wings (6/6); truncate.

Glume

Glumes shorter than spikelet (1), or reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume elliptic (1), or ovate; membranous; without keels; 3-4 -veined (3), or 5 -veined, or 6-7 -veined (2). Lower glume surface smooth (6), or scabrous (1). Lower glume apex acute (5), or acuminate (2), or caudate (1). Upper glume lanceolate (2), or elliptic (4), or oblong (1), or ovate (3); membranous (6), or coriaceous (1); without keels; 5-6 -veined (1), or 7 -veined (6), or 9 -veined (1). Upper glume apex acute (5), or acuminate (3), or caudate (1).

Florets

Basal sterile florets barren; with palea (2), or without significant palea (5). Lemma of lower sterile floret elliptic (4), or oblong (3), or ovate (3), or orbicular (1); membranous (6), or coriaceous (1); 5 -veined (3/6), or 7 -veined (3/6); acute (4), or acuminate (4), or caudate (1). Fertile lemma elliptic (5), or oblong (1), or ovate (4); chartaceous (1), or indurate (6); without keel; 5 -veined (1/3), or 7 -veined (2/3). Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse (6), or acute (3). Palea involute; 1 length of lemma; chartaceous (1), or indurate (6).

Flowers

Anthers 3 (4/4).

Fruits

Caryopsis with adherent pericarp (2/2); oblong (1/1). Embryo 0.5 length of caryopsis. Hilum punctiform (1/1).

Distribution

Tropical Asia (1), or Australasia (6).