Paspalum chaseanum

HABIT Perennial. Basal innovations intravaginal. Culms erect; 70–150 cm long; 5–6 mm diam.; 5–6 -noded. Culm-nodes brown; glabrous. Leaf-sheaths longer than adjacent culm internode; hispid. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2 mm long. Leaf-blades 15–35 cm long; 8–10 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface hirsute; hairy on both sides; with tubercle-based hairs. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 6–25; borne along a central axis; unilateral; 3–13 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 10–15 cm long. Rhachis angular; glabrous on margins.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels fused to each other; united below; clavate; subequal; 1 mm long; glabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; plano-convex; 2–2.5 mm long; 1.5 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; dark green; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume surface papillose; pubescent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; dark green; 3 -veined; papillose; pubescent; acute. Fertile lemma elliptic; 2–2.5 mm long; indurate; dark brown; shiny; without keel. Lemma surface punctate. Lemma margins involute. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1 mm long.

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.