Paspalum inaequivalve

HABIT Perennial. Stolons present. Culms decumbent; slender; 15–25 cm long; rooting from lower nodes. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1.2–2 mm long; erose; truncate. Leaf-blade base cordate; with a false petiole. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 4–18 cm long; 4–11 mm wide. Leaf-blade midrib conspicuous. Leaf-blade margins undulate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes; terminal, or terminal and axillary.

Racemes 3–10; borne along a central axis; unilateral; 0.5–3 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 5–10 cm long. Rhachis angular; 0.5–0.8 mm wide; scabrous on margins. Spikelet packing 2–4 -rowed.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels oblong; unequal; 0.5–2 mm long; bearing a few hairs.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; plano-convex; 1.5–2 mm long; 0.7–0.9 mm wide; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Upper glume ovate; 0.5 length of spikelet; membranous; dark brown; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex emarginate, or truncate.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; dark green; 5 -veined; acute. Fertile lemma elliptic; 1.6–1.8 mm long; 0.6–0.8 mm wide; indurate; pallid; shiny; without keel. Lemma surface striate. Lemma margins involute. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid; 1 mm long; dark brown. Embryo 0.5 length of caryopsis. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION South America: western South America, Brazil, and southern South America.

NOTES Paniceae. Fl Entre Rios 1995.

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