Paspalum hartwegianum

HABIT Perennial. Culms decumbent; 40–80 cm long; without nodal roots, or rooting from lower nodes. Leaf-sheaths pilose; with tubercle-based hairs. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades linear; conduplicate, or involute; 10–35 cm long; 2–6 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous; hairless except near base. Leaf-blade margins scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 4–7; borne along a central axis; unilateral; 2–9 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 1–5 cm long. Rhachis narrowly winged; angular; 1–1.5 mm wide. 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; dorsally compressed; plano-convex; acute; 3 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Upper glume elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume surface glabrous, or puberulous. 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 -veined; obtuse. Fertile lemma elliptic; gibbous; 3 mm long; indurate; light brown; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea involute; indurate.

DISTRIBUTION North America: south-central USA and Mexico. South America: Mesoamericana, western South America, and southern South America.

NOTES Paniceae. Gr Texas 1993.

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