Paspalum anderssonii

HABIT Perennial. Culms erect; 100 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Culm-nodes glabrous. Leaf-sheaths mostly shorter than adjacent culm internode; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades erect. Leaf-blade margins scabrous. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes numerous; borne along a central axis; erect; unilateral; 6.5 cm long; bearing 20 fertile spikelets on each. Rhachis angular; scabrous on margins. Spikelet packing 4 -rowed.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets obovate; dorsally compressed; plano-convex; obtuse; 2.3 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure, or two; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.2–0.5 mm long; hyaline. Upper glume obovate; 0.9 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret obovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 3 -veined; obtuse. Fertile lemma elliptic; 2.3 mm long; indurate; dark brown; shiny; without keel. Lemma surface striate. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea involute; indurate.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: western South America.

NOTES Paniceae. Mez 2002.

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