Paspalum conjugatum

HABIT Perennial. Stolons present; with alternating elongated and bunched internodes. Culms 30–60 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1–1.5 mm long. Leaf-blades linear, or lanceolate; 4–20 cm long; 5–13 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 2; paired; unilateral; 5–17 cm long. Rhachis narrowly winged; angular; 0.5 mm wide. Spikelet packing abaxial; regular; 2 -rowed.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets orbicular; dorsally compressed; plano-convex; obtuse; 1.5–1.7 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Upper glume orbicular; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; yellow; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume margins ciliate. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 7 -veined; obtuse. Fertile lemma orbicular; gibbous; 1.5–1.7 mm long; indurate; pallid; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma surface striate. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute. Palea involute; indurate.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: west tropical, west-central tropical, northeast tropical, east tropical, southern tropical, middle Atlantic ocean, and western Indian ocean. Asia-temperate: China and eastern Asia. Asia-tropical: India, Indo-China, Malesia, and Papuasia. Australasia: Australia and New Zealand. Pacific: southwestern, south-central, northwestern, and north-central. North America: south-central USA, southeast USA, and Mexico. South America: Mesoamericana, Caribbean, northern South America, western South America, Brazil, and southern South America.

NOTES Paniceae. FTEA.

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