Paspalum arenarium

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Stolons present. Culms 40–70 cm long. Leaves mostly basal. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface, or pilose. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.8 mm long. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 5–18 cm long; 7–14 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pubescent. Leaf-blade margins tuberculate-ciliate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes; terminal and axillary. Peduncle 10–25 cm long.

Racemes 1–3; single, or paired, or digitate; arcuate; unilateral; 4–7 cm long. Rhachis angular; 0.5–0.7 mm wide. Spikelet packing 2 -rowed.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 0.6–1 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets obovate, or rhomboid; dorsally compressed; plano-convex; 1.2–1.3 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; 2 -veined. Upper glume primary vein absent. Upper glume lateral veins obscure. Upper glume surface glabrous, or pubescent; with capitate hairs.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 2 -veined; without midvein; obscurely veined; glabrous, or pubescent; with capitate hairs. Fertile lemma elliptic; 1.2–1.3 mm long; indurate; light brown; shiny; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: northern South America and Brazil.

NOTES Paniceae. Fl Guiana 1995.

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