Old World species of Trichanthecium (Poaceae: Panicoideae: Paniceae) including a new species from the Democratic Republic of Congo

Abstract

Studies of African material of the tribe Paniceae (Poaceae) resulted in the transfer of 12 species from Panicum, the description of a new species, and the conclusion that the genus Trichanthecium now consists of 52 species. The new Trichanthecium delimitation was confirmed by phylogenetic studies based on chloroplast ndhF and rbcL sequences. Morphological and anatomical characters are discussed within their pylogenetic context. A new species is described: T. marunguensis. Lectotypes are designated for Panicum aequinerve, P. calvum, P. chionachne, P. hochstetteri var. glaberrimum, P. inaequilatum, P. lepidum, P. mokaense, and P. wiehei. The following new combinations are proposed: T. acrotrichum, T. aequinerve, T. calvum, T. chionachne, T. delicatulum, T. eickii, T. hochstetteri, T. inaequilatum, T. perrieri, T. pusillum, T. striatissimum, and T. wiehei. Full synonymies, descriptions, distribution and habitat information, citation of all specimens and a key to the Old World species of the genus are provided; seven species are illustrated.