Paspalum aspidiotes

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 50–125 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 12–20 cm long; 10–20 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pilose; densely hairy; hairy on both sides.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes. Peduncle 10–15 cm long.

Racemes 4–6; digitate; straight, or arcuate; unilateral; 3–9 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 5 cm long. Rhachis narrowly winged; flattened; 2–3 mm wide. Spikelet packing abaxial; crowded; 2 -rowed.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; with cordate base; dorsally compressed; plano-convex; obtuse; 6.5 mm long; 3 mm wide; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Upper glume ovate; auriculate at base (cordate); 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; winged on margins; 7–9 -veined. Upper glume surface scabrous; puberulous; with an apical beard. Upper glume margins ciliolate. Upper glume hairs 1.5–2.5 mm long. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret ovate; auriculate at base (cordate); 5 mm long; 0.9 length of spikelet; membranous; winged on margins; 3 -veined; scabrous; with conspicuous apical hairs; ciliolate on margins; obtuse. Fertile lemma elliptic; 3.7 mm long; 1 mm wide; indurate; pallid; without keel. Lemma surface with conspicuous apical hairs. Lemma margins involute; pubescent. Lemma apex acute. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: northern South America, western South America, and Brazil.

NOTES Paniceae. Fl Guiana 1995.

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