Paspalum distortum

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 15–50 cm long; wiry; 2–3 -noded. Leaf-sheaths keeled; glabrous on surface; outer margin hairy. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.2 mm long. Leaf-blades tortuous; involute; 15–40 cm long; 1–1.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade margins ciliate; hairy at base.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; unilateral; 2.5–6 cm long. Rhachis wingless; semiterete. Spikelet packing abaxial.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate, or rhomboid; dorsally compressed; plano-convex; acute; 2 mm long; 1.7 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; 7 -veined. Upper glume surface wrinkled. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5 -veined; wrinkled; acute. Fertile lemma elliptic; 1.6 mm long; 1 mm wide; indurate; yellow; without keel. Lemma surface striate. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute. 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.