Paspalum equitans

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes short. Basal innovations flabellate. Culms robust; 100 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Leaf-sheaths longer than adjacent culm internode; keeled; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; truncate. Leaf-blades conduplicate; 6–10 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade apex abruptly acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 4–8; digitate; unilateral; 5–13 cm long. Rhachis angular. Spikelet packing abaxial; 2 -rowed.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels oblong.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; plano-convex; acute; 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. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; acute. Fertile lemma elliptic; 4 mm long; indurate; yellow; shiny; without keel. Lemma surface punctate. Lemma margins involute. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil and southern South America.

NOTES Paniceae. Fl Cat 1995.

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