Paspalum ellipticum

HABIT Perennial. Culms geniculately ascending; slender; 60–100 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades filiform; 15–30 cm long; 1–1.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 2; paired; unilateral; 4–6 cm long. Rhachis wingless; angular; 0.5 mm wide. Spikelet packing irregular.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels oblong; 1 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; compressed slightly; plano-convex; 4 mm long; 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 -veined. Upper glume margins ciliate. Upper glume hairs white. Upper glume apex obtuse.

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; smooth, or wrinkled; ciliate on margins; bearing white hairs; obtuse. Fertile lemma elliptic; gibbous; 4 mm long; indurate; pallid; without keel. Lemma surface striate. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea involute; indurate.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil and southern South America.

NOTES Paniceae. WDC 2001.

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