Paspalum goyanum

HABIT Perennial. Culms erect; slender; 110 cm long. Leaf-sheaths longer than adjacent culm internode; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2.5–3 mm long; brown. Leaf-blades curled, or flexuous; 15–30 cm long; 0.5–1.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 2–3; paired, or digitate; ascending; unilateral; 9–11 cm long. Rhachis angular; 0.6 mm wide; puberulous on surface; glabrous on margins.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 0.5–1 mm long; glabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic, or obovate; dorsally compressed; plano-convex; 2.3–2.5 mm long; 1.3–1.4 mm wide; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Upper glume elliptic; 0.9 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume surface glabrous. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; with conspicuous midvein; glabrous; obtuse. Fertile lemma elliptic; 2.3–2.5 mm long; indurate; dark brown; shiny; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea involute; indurate.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil.

NOTES Paniceae. Swallen 2002.

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