Paspalum delicatum

HABIT Annual. Culms rambling; straight, or zigzag; 15–30 cm long. Lateral branches ample. Leaves without demarcation between sheath and blade. Leaf-sheaths 3–6 cm long; mostly shorter than adjacent culm internode; wider than blade at the collar. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1–1.3 mm long; acute. Leaf-blades 4–8 cm long; 0.5–1 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes. Peduncle 3–8 cm long.

Racemes 1; single; arcuate; unilateral; 1.5–3 cm long. Rhachis angular; 0.3–0.4 mm wide.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets obovate; dorsally compressed; plano-convex; 0.7–0.8 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Upper glume ovate; 0.3–0.5 mm long; 0.5 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret obovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5 -veined; with unevenly spaced veins (near margins). Fertile lemma obovate; 0.7–0.8 mm long; indurate; yellow; without keel. Lemma surface papillose. Lemma margins involute. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: northern South America, western South America, and Brazil.

NOTES Paniceae. Fl Guiana 1995.

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