Paspalum cymbiforme

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 50–100 cm long. Culm-nodes glabrous, or bearded. Lateral branches sparse; arising from mid culm. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface; outer margin hairy. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1 mm long; brown. Collar pubescent. Leaf-blades spreading; 7–15 cm long; 3–7 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface puberulous; hairy adaxially. Leaf-blade margins glabrous. Leaf-blade apex attenuate; filiform.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes. Peduncle pubescent above.

Racemes 2–3; paired, or borne along a central axis; arcuate, or flexuous; unilateral; 5–7 cm long. Central inflorescence axis unspecialized, or flattened. Rhachis broadly winged; membranous; 2–2.5 mm wide; glabrous on surface. Raceme-bases brief; pilose.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; dorsally compressed; acute; 3 mm long; 1 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; 3–5 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins obscure. Upper glume surface pilose; hairy below. Upper glume margins ciliate. Upper glume hairs 3–3.5 mm long.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 3 -veined; obscurely veined; sulcate; glabrous, or pubescent; hairy above. Fertile lemma elliptic; 2.2 mm long; 0.7 mm wide; indurate; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute. Palea involute; indurate.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Mexico. South America: Mesoamericana.

NOTES Paniceae. Chase 1994.

ADDITIONAL CHARACTERS Glume hairs unequal.

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