Paspalum gardnerianum

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths herbaceous; not bulbous, or thickened and forming a bulb; villous. Culms erect; 45–100 cm long. Leaves basal and cauline. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades parallel-sided; 3–20 cm long; 3–8 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes (1–)3–7(–11); borne along a central axis; unilateral; 2.5–11 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 2–15 cm long. Rhachis narrowly winged; angular; 0.5–0.7 mm wide. Spikelet packing abaxial; regular; 2–4 -rowed.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled; 1–2 in the cluster; on shorter pedicels than sterile. Companion sterile spikelets pedicelled; 0–1 in the cluster. Pedicels oblong; setose; hairy at tip; with 1.5–2 mm long hairs.

STERILE SPIKELETS Companion sterile spikelets rudimentary (when present).

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic, or oblong; dorsally compressed; plano-convex; obtuse; 1.3–2.2 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes both absent or obscure.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret obovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 2–3 -veined; glabrous, or pilose; obtuse. Fertile lemma orbicular; gibbous; 1.3–2.2 mm long; indurate; pallid, or dark brown; without keel. Lemma surface granulose. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea involute; indurate.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Mesoamericana, 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.