Paspalum nelsonii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 100–200 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Culm-nodes glabrous. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths keeled; pilose; with tubercle-based hairs. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 3 mm long. Leaf-blades 20–40 cm long; 12–15 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pilose; hairy adaxially; with tubercle-based hairs.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 18; borne along a central axis; drooping; unilateral; 8–12 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 3–6 cm long. Rhachis flattened; 1 mm wide; scabrous on margins; ciliate on margins. Rhachis hairs 5–7 mm long. Spikelet packing 4 -rowed.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets obovate; dorsally compressed; plano-convex; subacute; 2.1–2.3 mm long; 1.3 mm wide; 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. Upper glume margins ciliate.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 3 -veined; glabrous, or puberulous; hairy at apex. Fertile lemma elliptic; 2 mm long; indurate; yellow; without keel. Lemma surface papillose, or striate. Lemma margins involute. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Mexico.

NOTES Paniceae. Fl Meso-Am 1995.

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