Paspalum hispidum

HABIT Perennial. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 45–55 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Culm-nodes bearded. Lateral branches ample. Leaf-sheaths longer than adjacent culm internode; keeled. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2 mm long; brown. Leaf-blade base broadly rounded. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 10–15 cm long; 10–18 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface hispid; sparsely hairy, or moderately hairy, or densely hairy; with tubercle-based hairs. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 9; borne along a central axis; unilateral; 6–9 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 8 cm long. Rhachis wingless; angular; 1 mm wide; scabrous on margins. Raceme-bases brief; pilose.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels oblong.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; plano-convex; acute; 2.3–2.4 mm long; 1.1 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; 3 -veined. Upper glume surface pilose. Upper glume margins ciliate. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 3 -veined; glabrous, or pilose; acute. Fertile lemma elliptic; 2 mm long; indurate; without keel. Lemma surface striate. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse, or acute. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Mesoamericana.

NOTES Paniceae. Swallen 1995.

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