Paspalum costellatum

HABIT Annual. Culms erect; 12–28 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Leaf-sheaths mostly shorter than adjacent culm internode; keeled; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 3–6 cm long; 4–8 mm wide; flaccid. Leaf-blade surface pilose; hairy on both sides. Leaf-blade margins ciliate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 3–6; borne along a central axis; unilateral; 1–3 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 6–8 cm long. Rhachis narrowly winged; angular; 1–1.3 mm wide; scabrous on margins. Spikelet packing abaxial.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels oblong.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; dorsally compressed; plano-convex; obtuse; 1.3 mm long; 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 apex obtuse.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 3 -veined; obtuse. Fertile lemma oblong; 1.2 mm long; indurate; pallid; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil.

NOTES Paniceae. Swallen 1995.

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