Paspalum erianthoides

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 100 cm long. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths pilose. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate. Ligule an eciliate membrane; brown. Leaf-blades 30–50 cm long; 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 6–9; borne along a central axis; unilateral; 1–5 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 oblong; dorsally compressed; plano-convex; acute; 4–5 mm long; 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. Upper glume margins ciliate. Upper glume apex acute.

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