Paspalum crispatum

HABIT Annual. Culms erect; 50 cm long; 8 -noded. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths pilose; with tubercle-based hairs. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades linear, or lanceolate; 4–8 cm long; 4–8 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade surface pilose; hairy on both sides; with tubercle-based hairs. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 5–12; borne along a central axis; unilateral; 1–4 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 9 cm long. Rhachis narrowly winged; angular. Spikelet packing irregular; 4 -rowed.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels oblong; glabrous; tip discoid.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; dorsally compressed; plano-convex; obtuse; 2.5–3.8 mm long; 0.7 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; 3 -veined. Upper glume surface pubescent; with tubercle-based hairs. 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; pilose; with tubercle-based hairs; obtuse. Fertile lemma oblong; 1.5 mm long; indurate; yellow; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse; mucronate. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil and southern South America.

NOTES Paniceae. Hackel 1995.

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