29. Panicum pilgeri Mez (1904: 146). Type:— NIGERIA. Nupe, C. Barter 1377 (holotype, B [10_0168708]!, isotypes, K [000256820]!, US [US 80915]!, fragment ex B, S [G-4499]!, W [0000209]!). Fig. 26

Panicum lasiopodum Stapf (1905: 105). Type:— GUINEA. Kourossa, August 1900, M. Pobéguin 500 (lectotype (here designated), K [000256821]!, isolectotypes, P [03124678]!, P [03124675]!).

Perennial, caespitose, 30–110 cm long; culms erect, tufted, simple, branching at the lower nodes; internodes 6.0– 20 cm long, cylindrical, hollow, glabrous; nodes hirsute. Sheaths 5.0– 12 cm long, shorter than the internodes, striate, hirsute. Ligule membranous-ciliate, 1.0 mm long, with long hairs beneath at the base of the blade. Blades linear, 20–40 × 0.2–0.4 cm, with involute margins, hirsute to glabrous, narrow at the base, the apex attenuate. Inflorescence terminal, a contracted, long exserted oblong panicle, 12–25 × 6.0– 10 cm; peduncle 20–25 cm long, cylindrical, hirsute with long tuberculate hairs; pulvini pilose; main axis cylindrical, hispid; first-order branches alternate to opposite, divergent to appressed; axis of the branches hispid; spikelets solitary or paired on pedicels 2.0–8.0 mm long, ciliate, with whitish hairs up to 2.0 mm long. Spikelets ovoid, 2.5–2.6(–3.0) × 1.2 mm, glabrous or occasionally hispid, with long whitish hairs, greenish and tinged with purple; lower glume ovate, 2.0– 2.2 mm long, 3/4 to 4/5 the length of the spikelet, membranous, 3-nerved, mucronate or awned, awn, when present, up to 1.0 mm long, scabrous; upper glume as long as the spikelet, membranous, 5-nerved, acuminate or awned, awn up to 1.0 mm long, scabrous; lower lemma glumiform, 5-nerved, acuminate; lower palea elliptic, 2.0 ×1.0 mm, hyaline, glabrous; lower flower staminate; upper anthecium ovoid, 1.5–1.8 × 0.7 mm, shorter than the upper glume, pale, glabrous, indurate, shiny. Caryopsis not seen.

Distribution and habitat: —Mostly restricted to West tropical Africa, occasionally present in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Mozambique; it grows in damp or swampy grassland and marshy places, at 300–1500 m.

Note: — This species is distinguished by its hirsute peduncles, axis and branches of the inflorescence hispid, and pedicels ciliate, with whitish hairs up to 2.0 mm long.

Representative specimens: — BURKINA FASO. Bobodioulasso, vers Sikasso, 16 September 1958, Adam 15083 (K, P). CAMEROON. Km 105 route Yacunde-Bafia, 25 August 1966, Letouzet 7683 (P). DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO. Tukpwo, savane, 10 September 1954, Gerard 1725 (BR); Tupwo, 3 June 1960, Gerard 4650 (BR). GABON. Réserve de la Lopé, Chantier Mitendi, Sosef et al. 563 (MO, P). GAMBIA. South of Kartung, 19 October 1970, Rains 8 (K). GUINEA. Nzérékoré, Nimba Mountains, near Sempéré, 2 December 2006, Jongkind et al. 7444 (BR, MO, P); Macenta a Kérowané, 7 November 1949, Adam 6878 (P); Nimba Mountains, Savannah between Zougué River valley and Zié River valley, 5 October 2011, Bilivogui et al. 60 (MO, P). IVORY COAST. Wango Fitini, 15 September 1980, Fournier 1028 (P); savanne entre Toumodi et Yamousookro, 6 October 1961, Adjanohoun 328 A (K, US); Bouake, 15 October 1988, Poilecot 2523 (G); Oumé, 25 June 1990, Poilecot 3161 (G); N’Korhogo, 11 October 1965, Boudet 3123 (P); Réserve de Bouna, Kokpin, 19 June 1968, Assi 10235 (G); ca. 4 km E of Browo, ca. 50 km E of Bouaké, 29 April 1963, de Wilde 941 (BR); Mankono, 2 July 1910, Chevalier 21981 (BR). MALI. Sikasso, July 1965, Demange 2924 (P). MOZAMBIQUE. Lake Chilwa, Mesanhelas, 11 May 1971, Trevor-Jones UG3 (K). NIGERIA. Takum-Belli road, 10 August 1966, without collector (P, ex herb Kew 1720); Kwara State, Borgu Game Reserve, 9 August 1972, Wit & Oguntayo 2295 (K, P). SIERRA LEONE. Bumban, 28 November 1965, Morton 2902 (BR, K, P). TCHAD. Békao, 29 July 1962, Mosnier 1067 (P).