Paspalum insulare

HABIT Perennial; culms solitary, or caespitose. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; slender; 40–55 cm long. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths pilose; with tubercle-based hairs. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1 mm long. Leaf-blades 6–16 cm long; 3–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade midrib prominent beneath. Leaf-blade surface pilose; hairy on both sides; with tubercle-based hairs.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1–2; single, or paired; straight, or arcuate; unilateral; 3–6.5 cm long. Rhachis wingless; flattened; 1.5 mm wide. Spikelet packing abaxial. Raceme-bases brief; hirsute.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic, or obovate; dorsally compressed; plano-convex; obtuse; 2.5–2.6 mm long; 1.5–1.6 mm wide; 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; 5 -veined. Upper glume surface wrinkled. 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; 5 -veined; obtuse. Fertile lemma elliptic; 2.3 mm long; indurate; yellow; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea involute; indurate.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Caribbean.

NOTES Paniceae. Chase 1994.

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