Paspalum clavuliferum

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Culms erect; 10–30 cm long; 0.5–1 mm diam. Culm-internodes hollow; distally glabrous. Culm-nodes glabrous. Lateral branches sparse. Leaves mostly basal. Leaf-sheaths pilose; with tubercle-based hairs; outer margin hairy. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.7–1 mm long; brown. Leaf-blades 3–9 cm long; 1.5–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade midrib prominent beneath. Leaf-blade surface pilose; with tubercle-based hairs. Leaf-blade margins ciliate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes; terminal and axillary.

Racemes 1–2; single, or paired; arcuate; unilateral; 1–4 cm long. Rhachis wingless; angular; 0.4–0.5 mm wide. Spikelet packing 4 -rowed.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 0.2–0.5 mm long; puberulous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets obovate; dorsally compressed; 1.2–1.4 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume surface pubescent; with capitate hairs.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 3 -veined; eciliate on margins, or ciliate on margins (capitate hairs). Fertile lemma obovate; 1.2–1.4 mm long; indurate; pallid; without keel. Lemma surface striate. Lemma margins involute. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.2–0.3 mm long; brown.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; obovoid; 0.8 mm long.

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

NOTES Paniceae. Fl Costaric 1993.

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