Derivation
Panicum L., Sp. Pl. 55 (1753) & Gen. Pl. 5th edn, 29 (1754); Panicum: old Latin name for common millet (Setaria italica), from Latin panis (bread).

racemosum- Latin for racemose.

Published in
Syst. Veg. 1: 313 (1852).

Habit
Perennial. Cataphylls present. Rhizomes elongated. Stolons present. Culms 45–100 cm tall, 1.4–3 mm diam., 7–35-noded. Mid-culm internodes glabrous. Mid-culm nodes brown, bearded. Leaf-sheaths hispid, with reflexed hairs. Leaf-sheaths outer margin glabrous. Leaf-sheath auricles absent. Ligule a fringe of hairs, 1.5–2.5 mm long. Leaf-blades aciculate or linear, convolute, 23–70 cm long, 0.6–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface smooth.

Inflorescence
Inflorescence compound, a panicle, exserted. Panicle contracted, linear, 10.5–29 cm long, evenly furnished or contracted about primary branches. Primary panicle branches appressed, simple, 6.5–11 cm long, bearing 8–40 fertile spikelets on each lower branch, bearing spikelets almost to the base. Panicle branches bearing congested spikelets.

Spikelets
Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets 2-flowered, comprising 1 fertile floret, lower floret male, upper fertile, without rhachilla extension, ovate, dorsally compressed, 4.5–8 mm long, 3–5 mm wide, falling entire. Rhachilla internodes brief up to lowest fertile floret.

Glumes
Glumes similar, thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate or obovate, not gibbous, 4–5 mm long, 66–75% of length of spikelet, membranous, 5–9-nerved. Lower glume surface villous. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate, 4–5 mm long, 100% of length of spikelet, membranous, 9–12-nerved. Upper glume surface villous. Upper glume apex obtuse.

Florets
Basal sterile floret 1, with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume, ovate, 4.2–5 mm long, 100% of length of spikelet, membranous, 9–10-nerved, villous, obtuse, muticous. Fertile lemma oblong, dorsally compressed, 4–4.3 mm long, indurate, pallid. Lemma surface smooth. Lemma margins involute, pilose, hairy below. Lemma apex obtuse, muticous. Palea involute, indurate.

Continental Distribution:
Australasia, South America.

Australian Distribution:
New South Wales, Victoria.

New South Wales: North Coast, Central Coast. Victoria: Gippsland Plains.

Classification. (GPWG 2001):
Panicoideae: Paniceae

Notes
Introduced. Flowers Dec.