Paspalum falcatum

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes elongated. Culms erect; 60–150 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous, or pubescent. Culm-nodes brown. Lateral branches lacking. Ligule an eciliate membrane; truncate, or acute. Leaf-blades flat, or involute; 8–35 cm long; 3–7 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pilose. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 5–15; borne along a central axis; arcuate; unilateral; 1.25–3.75 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 5–15 cm long. Rhachis broadly winged; membranous; folded longitudinally to embrace spikelets; 2.5 mm wide; dark-coloured (purple); ciliate on margins. Spikelet packing crowded; 4 -rowed.

Spikelets in pairs. 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; subacute; 1.5 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Upper glume oblong; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 1–3 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent, or obscure. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret oblong; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 3 -veined; acute. Fertile lemma oblong; 1.5 mm long; indurate; shiny; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute. 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.