Paspalum prostratum

HABIT Perennial. Culms prostrate; 30–75 cm long; spongy; rooting from lower nodes. Leaf-sheaths pilose. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blade base broadly rounded. Leaf-blades 8–12 cm long; 10–20 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pilose.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 3–15; borne along a central axis; unilateral; 1–3.7 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 5–15 cm long. Rhachis deciduous from axis; broadly winged; foliaceous; folded longitudinally to embrace spikelets; 2.5–3 mm wide; terminating in a barren extension; extension flattened; extension 3–5 mm long. Spikelet packing abaxial; regular; 2 -rowed.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; dorsally compressed; plano-convex; 2.1–2.2 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Upper glume elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; hyaline; without keels.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; hyaline. Fertile lemma elliptic; 2 mm long; indurate; pallid; shiny; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Mexico. South America: northern South America and western South America.

NOTES Paniceae. Fl Nov Gal 1994.

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