Paspalum conspersum

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths herbaceous. Culms robust; 100–200 cm long. Culm-nodes glabrous. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths striately veined; glabrous on surface, or pilose; with tubercle-based hairs; outer margin hairy. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1.5–2 mm long. Leaf-blade base broadly rounded. Leaf-blades 30–75 cm long; 10–25 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pilose; hairy adaxially; with tubercle-based hairs.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 6–12; borne along a central axis; unilateral; 7–15 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 8–18 cm long. Rhachis wingless; angular; 0.7–1.2 mm wide; scaberulous on margins; glabrous on margins.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; plano-convex; subacute; 2.7–3 mm long; 1.6–1.8 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; light brown to purple; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume surface pubescent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; light brown, or purple; 5 -veined; concave across back; glabrous, or pubescent; acute. Fertile lemma elliptic; 2.5–2.7 mm long; indurate; dark brown; without keel. Lemma surface striate. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea involute; indurate.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Mexico. South America: northern South America, western South America, Brazil, and southern South America.

NOTES Paniceae. Chase 1994.

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