Paspalum racemosum

HABIT Annual. Culms geniculately ascending, or decumbent; 60–100 cm long; rooting from lower nodes. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blade base broadly rounded. Leaf-blades lanceolate, or elliptic; 8–12 cm long; 10–25 mm wide; flaccid.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes numerous; borne along a central axis; closely spaced; unilateral; 0.5–2 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 5–15 cm long. Rhachis broadly winged; 1–2 mm wide. Spikelet packing abaxial; 2 -rowed.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; dorsally compressed; plano-convex; obtuse; 2.5 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume surface rugose. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 3 -veined; rugose; obtuse. Fertile lemma elliptic; gibbous; 1.3–1.5 mm long; indurate; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea involute; indurate.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Caribbean and western South America.

NOTES Paniceae. Hitchcock 1993.

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