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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: torridum = refering to the "torrid zone" an ancient Greek term for the equitorial region
Photosynthetic type: C4 (warm season)
Nativity: endemic
Map
Inflorescence
Plant
Habit
Spikelets
Collar
Description
Cespitose annuals; culms 8-90 cm tall, unbranched or branched, villous or velvety puberulent, the nodes villous. Leaves cauline; sheaths villous or velvety puberulent; ligule a ciliate membrane, 0.7-2 mm long, the membrane 0.1-0.7 mm long, the cilia 0.6-1.4 mm long; blades 4-29 cm long, 0.2- 1.5 cm wide, flat, villous or velvety puberulent. Panicles 3-23 cm long, axis villous, branches ascending, villous; spikelets 1.9- 5.1 mm long, acuminate, villous; glumes villous with hairs 1-3 mm long, apex often curved outward, first glume as long as spikelets, acuminate or rarely acute, 5-7- nerved, second glume shorter than first glume, acute to acuminate, 5-9-nerved; first floret sterile, first lemma shorter than second glume, glabrous to villous, 7- nerved, first palea 1/4-1/2 as long as first lemma; second floret dark brown with white nerves at maturity, 1.2-2 mm long, 0.5-0.8 mm wide, elliptic, smooth, glossy; anthers 0.7-1.2 mm long. [2n = 18*.]
(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 )