Paspalum glumaceum

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms geniculately ascending; 30–100 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades linear, or lanceolate; 8–30 cm long; 8–19 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 2–3; paired, or borne along a central axis; unilateral; 2–11 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 0.5–6 cm long. Rhachis broadly winged; with sharp-edged midrib; 1.5–2 mm wide. Spikelet packing abaxial; regular; 2 -rowed.

Spikelets solitary, or in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic, or orbicular; dorsally compressed; plano-convex; obtuse; (2.5–)2.8–3.5 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure, or two; dissimilar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 0.5–1.5 mm long; 0.2–0.5 length of spikelet; membranous. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; chartaceous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume surface glabrous, or pubescent. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; ovate; 1 length of spikelet; chartaceous; 3 -veined; glabrous, or pubescent; obtuse. Fertile lemma ovate; gibbous; 2–3 mm long; indurate; dark brown; without keel. Lemma surface striate. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea involute; indurate.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: northeast tropical, east tropical, southern tropical, and western Indian ocean.

NOTES Paniceae. FTEA.

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