Paspalum carinatum

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Culms 45–70 cm long. Leaf-sheaths striately veined; pilose; with tubercle-based hairs. Ligule an eciliate membrane, or a ciliolate membrane; 0.5–1 mm long. Leaf-blades involute; 6–11 cm long; 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pilose; with tubercle-based hairs.

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

Racemes 1; single; unilateral; 5–12.5 cm long. Rhachis narrowly winged; 2–2.3 mm wide. Spikelet packing abaxial; 2 -rowed.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 1.5 mm long; glabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; plano-convex; 3.8–5 mm long; falling entire. Rhachilla internodes elongated below proximal fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume surface villous; hairy below. Upper glume apex obtuse, or acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 3 -veined; eciliate on midvein, or ciliolate on midvein (at base); obtuse. Fertile lemma elliptic; 3–3.7 mm long; indurate; pallid; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex without ornament, or pubescent. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Mesoamericana, Caribbean, 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.