Paspalum ceresia

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short. Butt sheaths villous. Culms decumbent; 30–60 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 5–15 cm long; 4–10 mm wide; glaucous. Leaf-blade surface pilose; hairy adaxially. Leaf-blade margins ciliate; hairy at base.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1–4; borne along a central axis; arcuate; unilateral; 4–6 cm long. Rhachis broadly winged; membranous; 4–8 mm wide; light-coloured (yellow & purple); terminating in a barren extension; extension flattened. Spikelet packing abaxial.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels oblong.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; dorsally compressed; plano-convex; 3.2–3.5 mm long; 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. Upper glume surface villous. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; pubescent; acute. Fertile lemma elliptic; 3.2–3.5 mm long; indurate; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: western South America, Brazil, and southern South America.

NOTES Paniceae. Gr Peru 1995.

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