Paspalum clandestinum

HABIT Annual. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 13–28 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Leaf-sheaths longer than adjacent culm internode; glabrous on surface; outer margin hairy. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades erect, or ascending; 3–7 cm long; 2–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface hirsute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes; subtended by an inflated leaf-sheath; enclosed.

Racemes 1; single; arcuate; unilateral; 10 cm long. Rhachis 1 mm wide; scaberulous on margins. Spikelet packing abaxial.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; dorsally compressed; plano-convex; acute; 3 mm long; 1.5 mm wide; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes two; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.5 mm long; 0.15 length of spikelet; membranous. Upper glume elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; mid-green and light brown (spotted); without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume surface pubescent.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; mid-green and light brown (spotted); 3 -veined; with unevenly spaced veins (near margins); pubescent. Fertile lemma elliptic; 2.5 mm long; indurate; pallid; shiny; without keel. Lemma surface smooth. Lemma margins involute. Palea involute; indurate.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil.

NOTES Paniceae. Swallen 1997.

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