Paspalum edmondii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short. Stolons present. Culms slender; 2–6 cm long. Culm-nodes pubescent. Leaves mostly basal. Leaf-sheaths pilose. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1 mm long. Leaf-blades 1–6 cm long; 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pilose; sparsely hairy; hairy adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; unilateral; 1–1.5 cm long. Rhachis wingless; flattened; 0.5 mm wide. Spikelet packing abaxial. Raceme-bases brief; hirsute.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels pubescent.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; dorsally compressed; plano-convex; caudate; 1.5–2 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; 7 -veined. Upper glume surface wrinkled. Upper glume apex erose; caudate.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5 -veined; concave across back; acuminate. Fertile lemma ovate; 1.2–1.4 mm long; 1 mm wide; indurate; dark brown; without keel. Lemma surface papillose. 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.