Paspalum acutifolium

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms geniculately ascending; 20–48 cm long. Culm-nodes bearded. Lateral branches lacking. Leaves mostly basal. Leaf-sheaths keeled; pilose; with tubercle-based hairs; outer margin hairy. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1.5–2 mm long. Leaf-blades 6–17 cm long; 4–8 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pilose; sparsely hairy; hairy on both sides; with tubercle-based hairs.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 2–4; borne along a central axis; unilateral; 2–8 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 1–3.5 cm long. Rhachis wingless; angular; 0.7 mm wide.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic, or oblong; dorsally compressed; turgidly plano-convex; obtuse; 1.8 mm long; 0.9–1 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; purple; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume margins eciliate, or pubescent. 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; purple; 3 -veined; concave across back; eciliate on margins, or pubescent on margins; obtuse. Fertile lemma ovate; 1.6 mm long; indurate; pallid; 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.