Paspalum barclayi

HABIT Perennial. Culms robust; 70–100 cm long. Culm-internodes elliptical in section; distally glabrous. Culm-nodes black; glabrous, or bearded. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths keeled; outer margin hairy. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1.5–2 mm long; brown. Leaf-blade base broadly rounded. Leaf-blades 10–21 cm long; 10–20 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous; hairless except near base. Leaf-blade margins scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes; exserted, or embraced at base by subtending leaf.

Racemes 8–10; borne along a central axis; closely spaced; ascending; unilateral; 2.5–8 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 5–8 cm long. Rhachis wingless; angular; 1 mm wide; scabrous on margins. Spikelet packing abaxial. Raceme-bases brief; pilose.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic, or ovate; dorsally compressed; plano-convex; 2.8–3 mm long; 1.5 mm wide; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume surface pubescent. Upper glume apex cuspidate.

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; cuspidate. Fertile lemma elliptic; 2.3–2.5 mm long; 1.3 mm wide; indurate; pallid; without keel. Lemma surface striate. Lemma margins involute. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

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

NOTES Paniceae. Hitchcock 1993.

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