Paspalum crustarium

HABIT Annual. Culms erect; 25–35 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Leaf-sheaths longer than adjacent culm internode; glabrous on surface; outer margin glabrous, or hairy. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 6–12 cm long; 2.5–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pubescent. Leaf-blade margins scabrous. Leaf-blade apex attenuate; filiform.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 2–4; paired, or borne along a central axis; unilateral; 2–4 cm long. Rhachis angular; 0.7 mm wide; glabrous on surface.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels oblong.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets obovate; dorsally compressed; plano-convex; obtuse; 2.4–2.5 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; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume surface irregularly tuberculate. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret obovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 3 -veined; irregularly tuberculate; obtuse. Fertile lemma elliptic; 2.4–2.5 mm long; indurate; dark brown; shiny; without keel. Lemma surface striate. Lemma margins involute. 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.