Paspalum brachytrichum

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 50–60 cm long; 3 -noded. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths mostly shorter than adjacent culm internode. Ligule an eciliate membrane; ciliate from base of abaxial surface; truncate. Leaf-blades filiform; convolute; 10–20 cm long; 0.6 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade surface pilose; hairy adaxially. Leaf-blade margins ciliate; hairy at base. Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 2–4; paired, or digitate; arcuate; unilateral; 3–4.5 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 1–2 cm long. Rhachis angular. Spikelet packing abaxial; 2 -rowed.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels oblong; puberulous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; dorsally compressed; plano-convex; obtuse; 2.5 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Upper glume oblong; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret oblong; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5 -veined; obtuse. Fertile lemma oblong; 2.5 mm long; indurate; yellow; shiny; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil.

NOTES Paniceae. Hackel 1995.

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