Paspalum chacoense

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes elongated; scaly. Basal innovations extravaginal. Culms 50–60 cm long; 3–4 mm diam.; 6–8 -noded. Culm-nodes glabrous. Leaf-sheaths longer than adjacent culm internode; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2–3 mm long; pubescent on abaxial surface; obtuse. Leaf-blades flat, or conduplicate; 10–25 cm long; 4–6 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade margins tuberculate-ciliate. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes; terminal and axillary. Axillary inflorescences different from terminal (1 raceme).

Racemes (1–)3; digitate; unilateral; 6–10 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 2–4 cm long. Rhachis angular; 0.6–0.8 mm wide. Spikelet packing 3 -rowed.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels oblong; subequal; 0.5 mm long; pubescent.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic, or obovate; dorsally compressed; plano-convex; 2.2–2.5 mm long; 1.2 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; 1-keeled (slightly); 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 3 -veined; acute. Fertile lemma elliptic, or ovate; 2.2–2.5 mm long; indurate; pallid; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.8 mm long; purple.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: southern South America.

NOTES Paniceae. Parodi 1995.

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