Paspalum distachyon

HABIT Perennial; mat forming. Rhizomes elongated. Culms erect; slender; 12–40 cm long; wiry. Culm-internodes elliptical in section. Leaf-sheaths longer than adjacent culm internode; keeled. Leaf-sheath oral hairs scanty. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.3 mm long. Leaf-blades erect; involute; 6–15 cm long; 1–2 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 2; paired; unilateral; 1–2.5 cm long. Rhachis wingless; angular; 0.6–0.7 mm wide; scabrous on margins. Spikelet packing abaxial. Raceme-bases linear.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate, or ovate; dorsally compressed; acute; 2.5–3 mm long; 1.2 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.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 3–5 -veined. Fertile lemma elliptic; 2.1 mm long; 1 mm wide; indurate; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea involute; indurate.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Caribbean.

NOTES Paniceae. Chase 1994.

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