Paspalum alterniflorum

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Culms erect; 30–100 cm long. Lateral branches lacking, or sparse; arising from lower culm. Leaf-sheaths without keel; glabrous on surface. Leaf-sheath oral hairs lacking, or ciliate. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1–2 mm long. Leaf-blades involute; 4–10 cm long; 1–1.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface puberulous; hairy adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1–5; single, or paired, or borne along a central axis; unilateral; 4–10 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 1–6 cm long. Rhachis wingless; angular; 1–1.5 mm wide. Spikelet packing abaxial.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong, or ovate; dorsally compressed; plano-convex; acute; 2 mm long; 1.2 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 pubescent; hairy below. Upper glume apex acute.

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; smooth, or wrinkled; pubescent; hairy below; acute. Fertile lemma obovate; 1.8 mm long; 1 mm wide; 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.