Paspalum bertonii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 30–50 cm long. Lateral branches lacking. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1–2 mm long. Leaf-blades filiform; involute; 10–25 cm long; 0.5–0.7 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 2; paired; erect; unilateral; 8–10 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 1–2 cm long. Rhachis narrowly winged; angular (wavy). Spikelet packing abaxial; 2 -rowed.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate, or elliptic; dorsally compressed; plano-convex; acute; 4.5 mm long; 1–1.2 mm wide; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Upper glume lanceolate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume surface pubescent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; lanceolate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 3 -veined; pubescent; acute. Fertile lemma lanceolate, or elliptic; gibbous; 2.5 mm long; indurate; pallid; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute. Palea involute; indurate.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil and southern South America.

NOTES Paniceae. Fl Cat 1993.

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