Panicum appressifolium Swallen

  • Authority

    Maguire, Bassett & Wurdack, John J. 1957. The Botany of the Guiana Highland -- Part II. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 9 (3): 235-392.

  • Family

    Poaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Panicum appressifolium Swallen

  • Description

    Latin Diagnosis - Perenne; culmi erecti, ramosi, 90 cm alti, nodiis dense pubescentibus; vaginae inferiores internodia aequantes, superiores internodiis multo longiores, in collo dense pubescentes, marginibus dense ciliatae; ligula membranacea, 0.2 mm longa; laminae erectae, lanceolatae, acuminatae, 7-9 cm longae, usque ad 9 mm latae, suprema multo reducta; paniculae 9-12 cm longae, purpureae, ramis gracilibus anguste adscendentibus ramulis divergentibus flexuosis; spiculae 2.2 mm longae, glabrae; gluma prima spicula 1/3-1/2 brevior, acuta vel subacuta, 1-nervis; gluma secunda et lemma sterile subaequalia, 7-nervia, fructu longiora; fructus 1.7 mm longus, ellipticus, acutus, striatus, minute papillosus.

    Species Description - Perennial; culms rather coarse, erect, about 90 cm high, the nodes densely pubescent, branching; lower sheaths about as long as the internodes, much overlapping upward, the uppermost elongate reaching or nearly reaching the base of the panicle, densely pubescent on the collar, the margins densely ciliate; ligule membranaceous, about 0.2 mm long; blades lanceolate, acuminate, erect, those of the midculm 7-9 cm long, as much as 9 mm wide, smaller upward, the uppermost greatly reduced; panicles 9-12 cm long, purple, the slender branches rather narrowly ascending, straight or flexuous, the branchlets divergent, usually flexuous; spikelets 2.2 mm long, glabrous, the pedicels of the lateral ones about as long as the spikelet; first glume 1/2-2/3 as long as the spikelet, acute or subacute, 1-nerved or sometimes with faint lateral nerves; second glume and sterile lemma subequal, 7-nerved, pointed beyond the fruit, the lemma with a palea but without a staminate flower; fruit 1.7 mm long, elliptic, acute, striate, minutely papillose roughened, straw-colored.

  • Discussion

    TYPE: occasional in savanna, Samwarakna-tipu (Holi-tipu), alt. 1100 m, Kamarang River, Wenamu Trail, British Guiana, November 10, 1951, Bassett Maguire & D. B. Fanshawe 32564; U. S. National Herbarium No. 2,078,797.

    Also collected on Mt. Roraima, on the great sandstone boulders, Philipp Camp, November 7, 1927, G. H. H. Tate 281. This specimen had been referred to Panicum carannense Mez, a species allied to P. paruifolium Lam. The following four species belong with the Panicum granuliferum—Panicum micranthum complex.