Paspalum gemmosum

HABIT Annual. Culms erect; 45–55 cm long. Leaf-sheaths pilose. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1–1.5 mm long. Leaf-blades linear, or lanceolate; 5–15 cm long; 5–13 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pilose; densely hairy; hairy on both sides. Leaf-blade apex acuminate, or attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1–9; borne along a central axis; deflexed; unilateral; 1.5–6 cm long. Rhachis angular; 0.5–0.75 mm wide. Spikelet packing lax; 1–2 -rowed.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels oblong.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets obovate; dorsally compressed; plano-convex; 1.5 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma; dull. Upper glume ovate; 0.1–0.15 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5 -veined; pilose; acute. Fertile lemma elliptic; 1.5 mm long; indurate; without keel. Lemma surface papillose. Lemma margins involute. Palea involute; indurate. Palea surface papillose.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil.

NOTES Paniceae. Renvoize 1995.

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