Paspalum acuminatum

HABIT Perennial. Stolons present. Culms decumbent; 35–65 cm long; 1–1.5 mm diam.; rooting from lower nodes. Culm-internodes elliptical in section; solid; distally glabrous. Culm-nodes glabrous. Lateral branches ample. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1–2 mm long. Leaf-blade base broadly rounded. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 3–13 cm long; 4–12 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1–5; single, or paired, or digitate; unilateral; 2.5–5 cm long. Rhachis broadly winged; foliaceous; 2.5–3 mm wide; scabrous on margins. Spikelet packing abaxial; 2 -rowed.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; dorsally compressed; compressed strongly; acuminate; 3.2–4 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.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; elliptic; 1.2 length of fertile lemma; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5 -veined; with unevenly spaced veins (close to margin). Fertile lemma obovate; 2.4–3 mm long; indurate; yellow; without keel. Lemma surface scaberulous. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse; pubescent. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1–1.2 mm long; purple.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

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

NOTES Paniceae. Fl Costaric 1993.

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