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Info
Subfamily: Panicoideae
Genus etymology: Panicum = "belonging to bread" [Latin] refering to use by several species as cereal grains
Species etymology: beecheyi = honorific for Frederick William Beechey (1796–1856)
Photosynthetic type: C4 (warm season)
Nativity: endemic
Map
Inflorescence
image credit: Ken WoodPlant
image credit: Ken WoodSpikelets
image credit: Ken Wood
image credit: Ken WoodDescription
Cespitose perennials 30-60 cm tall; culms unbranched, puberulent to glabrous, the nodes glabrous or puberulent. Leaves cauline; sheaths puberulent or glabrous; ligule a ciliate membrane, 0.7-1.6 mm long, the membrane 0.1-0.3 mm long, the cilia 0.6- 1.3 mm long; blades 10-18 cm long, 0.2-0.5 cm wide, flat or loosely inrolled, glabrous or puberulent. Panicles 10-18 cm long, axis scabrous, branches spreading, scabrous; spikelets 2.4-3.4 mm long, acuminate, pilose; glumes as long as spikelet, first glume slightly shorter than second one, 5-7-nerved, acuminate, pilose with hairs to 1.2-2.5 mm long, second glume 7-9- nerved, acuminate, pilose; first floret sterile, first lemma shorter or longer than first glume, 7-nerved, glabrous, first palea 1/4 as long as spikelet; second floret 1.7-1.9 mm long, 0.5-0.7 mm wide, 0.4-0.6 mm shorter than first lemma, elliptic, glossy, smooth; anthers 1-1.3 mm long.
(Description source: O’Connor, P.J. 1990. Poaceae, pp. 1481–1604. In: Wagner W.L., Herbst D.R. & Sohmer S.H. (eds.)., Manual of the flowering plant of Hawaiʻi. Vol. 2. University of Hawaii Press & Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu )