Paspalum chaffanjonii

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes short; scaly; hairy. Culms 70–80 cm long. Leaf-sheaths pilose; outer margin hairy. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 20–25 cm long; 5–6 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pilose. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 2–5; paired, or digitate; unilateral; 4–8 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 0–1 cm long. Rhachis angular. Spikelet packing abaxial; 2 -rowed.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels oblong.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; plano-convex; acute; 2.5–3 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; 3 -veined. Upper glume margins ciliate. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 3 -veined; ciliate on margins; acute. Fertile lemma ovate; 2–2.5 mm long; indurate; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: northern South America.

NOTES Paniceae. Maury 1995.

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