Paspalum fimbriatum

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Culms erect; 10–65 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades linear, or lanceolate; 9–25 cm long; 4–12 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pilose. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 2–7; borne along a central axis; unilateral; 1–5.5 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 1–10 cm long. Rhachis broadly winged; with sharp-edged midrib; 1.5–2 mm wide. Spikelet packing irregular; 2–4 -rowed.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets sessile and pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets orbicular; dorsally compressed; compressed strongly; plano-convex; obtuse; 2.5–3.5 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; chartaceous; without keels; winged on margins; winged all along; 3 -veined. Upper glume margins spinulose (and lacerate). Upper glume apex obtuse; mucronate.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; chartaceous; winged on margins; 3 -veined; spinulose on margins (and lacerate); obtuse; mucronate. Fertile lemma orbicular; gibbous; 2–3 mm long; indurate; without keel. Lemma surface granulose. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea involute; indurate.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; orbicular; flattened; plano-convex; 1.5 mm long. Embryo 0.5 length of caryopsis.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: eastern Asia. Asia-tropical: Papuasia. Pacific: southwestern, northwestern, and north-central. North America: Mexico. South America: Mesoamericana, Caribbean, northern South America, western South America, and Brazil.

NOTES Paniceae. Gr Bahia.

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