Paspalum galapageium

HABIT Perennial. Culms erect; 45–80 cm long. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface, or puberulous; outer margin glabrous, or hairy. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2–4 mm long. Leaf-blades 15–25 cm long; 3–8 mm wide. Leaf-blade midrib prominent beneath. Leaf-blade surface pubescent; densely hairy; hairy on both sides.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 3–8; borne along a central axis; ascending, or spreading; unilateral; 3–6.5 cm long. Rhachis wingless; angular; 0.6–0.8 mm wide; scabrous on margins. Raceme-bases pilose.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels flattened; scabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; plano-convex; subacute; 2–2.8 mm long; 1.5–1.8 mm wide; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure, or one to two the lower present in some spikelets; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Upper glume elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume surface glabrous. 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; 3–5 -veined; obtuse. Fertile lemma elliptic; 2–2.3 mm long; 1.5 mm wide; indurate; pallid; shiny; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Palea involute; indurate.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

CLEISTOGENES AND VIVIPARY Cleistogenes absent, or present; in lower sheaths.

DISTRIBUTION South America: western South America.

NOTES Paniceae. Chase 2001.

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