Paspalum floridanum

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes short. Culms 100–200 cm long. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface, or hirsute. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades flat, or conduplicate; 15–50 cm long; 4–10 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or hirsute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 2–5; borne along a central axis; unilateral; 4–13 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 1–4 cm long. Rhachis narrowly winged; angular. 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 elliptic, or orbicular; dorsally compressed; plano-convex; obtuse; 3.6–4.8 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; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; orbicular; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 3 -veined; obtuse. Fertile lemma elliptic; gibbous; 3.6–4.8 mm long; indurate; light brown; without keel. Lemma surface rugulose. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea involute; indurate.

DISTRIBUTION North America: north-central USA, northeast USA, south-central USA, and southeast USA.

NOTES Paniceae. Gr Texas 1993.

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