Paspalum coryphaeum

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rootstock evident. Butt sheaths pilose. Culms erect, or rambling; 65–400 cm long; 2–4 mm diam. Culm-internodes hollow; distally glabrous, or pubescent. Lateral branches ample. Leaf-sheaths keeled; pubescent; outer margin hairy. Leaf-sheath oral hairs bearded. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1–4.5 mm long; brown. Leaf-blade base simple, or cordate. Leaf-blades 30–50 cm long; 10–13 mm wide. Leaf-blade midrib conspicuous. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or puberulous. Leaf-blade margins scabrous; glabrous, or tuberculate-ciliate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes numerous; 15–44; borne along a central axis; simply spaced, or in several whorls; unilateral; 5–13 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 3–20 cm long. Rhachis wingless; angular; 0.5 mm wide. Spikelet packing 4 -rowed. Raceme-bases brief; hirsute.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets obovate; dorsally compressed; acute; 2–2.5 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Upper glume obovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; dark brown; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume surface pubescent; with tubercle-based hairs.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; obovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 3 -veined; glabrous, or puberulous. Fertile lemma ovate; 1.8–2.3 mm long; indurate; pallid; without keel. Lemma surface striate. Lemma margins involute. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1.2–1.4 mm long; purple.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Mesoamericana, Caribbean, northern South America, Brazil, and southern South America.

NOTES Paniceae. Fl Costaric 1994.

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