Paspalum arundinaceum

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 75–150 cm long. Culm-nodes purple. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface; outer margin hairy. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1.3–1.8 mm long; setose from base of abaxial surface. Leaf-blades 35–50 cm long; 5–7 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough on both sides. Leaf-blade margins scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 5–10; borne along a central axis; unilateral; 10–17 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 6–10 cm long. Rhachis 0.5 mm wide; scabrous on margins. Spikelet packing 2 -rowed.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 0.5–1.5 mm long; scabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets obovate; dorsally compressed; plano-convex; 2.8–3.2 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes one to two the lower present in some spikelets; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0–1.8 mm long; 0–0.5 length of spikelet. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 3 -veined; obtuse. Fertile lemma obovate; 2.8–3.2 mm long; indurate; yellow; without keel. Lemma surface striate. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Mexico. South America: Mesoamericana, Caribbean, northern South America, Brazil, and southern South America.

NOTES Paniceae. Fl Guiana 1995.

Please cite this publication as detailed in How to Cite Version: 3rd February 2016.