Paspalum giganteum

HABIT Perennial; culms solitary. Rhizomes short; scaly. Culms robust; 150–200 cm long; 4–8 mm diam. Lateral branches lacking. Leaves basal and cauline. Leaf-sheaths without keel; glabrous on surface to pilose; with tubercle-based hairs. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2–3 mm long. Leaf-blades 30–60 cm long; 10–23 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous; hairless except near base. Leaf-blade margins glabrous, or ciliate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 3–4; borne along a central axis; unilateral; 10–20 cm long. Rhachis wingless; angular; 1.5 mm wide; scabrous on margins. Spikelet packing crowded. Raceme-bases brief; hirsute.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets obovate; dorsally compressed; plano-convex; obtuse; 3–3.8 mm long; 2.5–3 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; light brown; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; light brown; 5 -veined; obtuse. Fertile lemma obovate; 3–3.8 mm long; indurate; yellow; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea involute; indurate.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION North America: southeast USA.

NOTES Paniceae. Chase 1994.

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