Paspalum cordaense

HABIT Annual. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 25–50 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Lateral branches ample; arising from lower culm. Leaf-sheaths mostly shorter than adjacent culm internode; hispid; with tubercle-based hairs. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 3 mm long. Leaf-blades 8–25 cm long; 4–6 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pilose; sparsely hairy, or moderately hairy, or densely hairy; with tubercle-based hairs. Leaf-blade margins scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 2; paired; unilateral; 3.5–8 cm long.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels unequal; 0.5 mm long, or 1–1.3 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets obovate; dorsally compressed; plano-convex; 3–3.1 mm long; 2.3 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; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume surface pilose.

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); pilose. Fertile lemma elliptic; gibbous; 3 mm long; indurate; dark brown; shiny; without keel. Lemma surface striate. 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.