Paspalum hatschbachii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short. Culms 65–120 cm long; 2–3 -noded. Culm-internodes 15–25 cm long. Culm-nodes glabrous. Lateral branches lacking. Leaves mostly basal. Leaf-sheaths 4–6 cm long; striately veined; hirsute. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1–1.2 mm long; brown. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 28–32 cm long; 9–11 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface hispid; sparsely hairy; hairy on both sides. Leaf-blade margins cartilaginous; ciliate. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes; without bracts, or bracteate at branch bases. Peduncle 30–60 cm long; glabrous.

Racemes 2; single; unilateral; 6–8 cm long. Rhachis broadly winged; 1.2–2 mm wide. Spikelet packing abaxial. Raceme-bases pubescent.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 0.5–0.7 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; plano-convex; acute; 5.9–6.4 mm long; 2.1–2.2 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; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume surface hirsute. Upper glume hairs red; 2.5 mm long. 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; glabrous; obtuse. Fertile lemma elliptic; gibbous; 5.4–6 mm long; 1.8–2.1 mm wide; indurate; yellow; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface papillose. Lemma margins involute. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; 0.7 mm long. Anthers 3; 3.5–4.5 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil.

NOTES Paniceae. Zuloaga & Morr. 2002.

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