Paspalum commune

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped loosely. Basal innovations extravaginal. Culms 150–200 cm long; 5–7 -noded. Culm-nodes pubescent. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface, or puberulous. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1.5–2 mm long. Leaf-blades 35–70 cm long; 15–20 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 6–10; borne along a central axis; unilateral; 5–15 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 10–15 cm long. Rhachis angular; glabrous on margins.

Spikelets in pairs. 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; obtuse; 1.8–2.3 mm long; 1.5–2 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; dark brown; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume surface puberulous. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; dark brown; 3 -veined; puberulous; obtuse. Fertile lemma ovate; 1.8–2.3 mm long; indurate; dark brown; without keel. Lemma surface papillose. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

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

NOTES Paniceae. Barreto 1995.

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