Paspalum bonplandianum

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes elongated. Stolons absent, or present. Culms geniculately ascending; 20–35 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Lateral branches lacking. Leaves mostly basal. Leaf-sheaths hirsute. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 4–8 cm long; 5–6 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pubescent; densely hairy.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 4–6; borne along a central axis; ascending; unilateral; 1–2.5 cm long. Rhachis narrowly winged; 2–3 mm wide; dark-coloured (purple); pubescent on surface. Spikelet packing abaxial; 2 -rowed.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels reduced to a stump; pubescent.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; plano-convex; 2.7–3 mm long; 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; without keels.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous. Fertile lemma elliptic; 2–2.5 mm long; indurate; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Palea involute; indurate.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: western South America.

NOTES Paniceae. Gr Peru 1997.

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