Paspalum arundinellum

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms robust; 150–200 cm long. Culm-nodes glabrous. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 3.5 mm long. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 45 cm long; 10 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 13–19; borne along a central axis; unilateral; 7–12.5 cm long. Rhachis wingless; angular; 1.6 mm wide; dark-coloured; scabrous on margins.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels oblong.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; plano-convex; acute; 2.6–2.9 mm long; 1.2–1.5 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; dark brown; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume surface glabrous.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; dark brown; 3 -veined; glabrous. Fertile lemma ovate; 2.6–2.8 mm long; indurate; yellow; without keel. Lemma surface papillose. Lemma margins involute. Palea involute; indurate.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; oblong; 1.8 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil and southern South America.

NOTES Paniceae. Fl Sao Paulo 2004.

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