Paspalum conduplicatum

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes short. Basal innovations intravaginal. Culms prostrate; 9–40 cm long; 2–3 -noded. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Culm-nodes brown; glabrous. Leaves mostly basal. Leaf-sheaths 3.5–10.3 cm long; striately veined; pubescent. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate; 2.5 mm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5–1 mm long. Leaf-blades ascending; linear, or lanceolate; 1.8–11 cm long; 1.5–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation indistinct. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough abaxially. Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes; without bracts, or bracteate at branch bases.

Racemes 2(–3); paired; ascending; unilateral; 2.9–6.2 cm long. Rhachis wingless; angular; 1 mm wide; glabrous on surface; scaberulous on margins. Spikelet packing abaxial; regular; 2 -rowed. Raceme-bases pubescent.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate, or ovate; dorsally compressed; plano-convex; obtuse; 2.3–2.9 mm long; 1.9–2.1 mm wide; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Upper glume ovate; 2.3–2.9 mm long; 1 length of spikelet; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; ovate; 2.1–2.8 mm long; 1 length of spikelet; 3 -veined. Fertile lemma obovate; gibbous; 1.9–2.5 mm long; 1.5–1.9 mm wide; indurate; dull; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea involute; 1.7–2.3 mm long; indurate.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; obtuse. Anthers 3; 0.9 mm long; red.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ovoid; 1.7–2.3 mm long. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil.

NOTES Paniceae. Canto-Dorow et al 2001.

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