Paspalum hitchcockii

HABIT Perennial. Culms decumbent; 12–30 cm long; rooting from lower nodes. Culm-nodes glabrous, or pubescent. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.2 mm long. Leaf-blades 5–13 cm long; 4–9 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes; subtended by an inflated leaf-sheath; embraced at base by subtending leaf.

Racemes 2–3; paired, or digitate; unilateral; 1.5–4 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 0.2–1 cm long. Rhachis narrowly winged; angular; 1.2–1.5 mm wide. Spikelet packing abaxial.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets orbicular; hemispherical; dorsally compressed; plano-convex; obtuse; 1.7–1.8 mm long; 1.5 mm wide; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Upper glume orbicular; 1 length of spikelet; hyaline; dark green; without keels; 2–4 -veined. Upper glume primary vein absent. Upper glume surface wrinkled. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; orbicular; 1 length of spikelet; hyaline; dark green; 2–4 -veined; without midvein; concave across back; wrinkled; obtuse. Fertile lemma orbicular; 1.6 mm long; indurate; dark brown; shiny; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse; pubescent. Palea involute; indurate. Palea apex pubescent.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Mesoamericana, northern South America, and western South America.

NOTES Paniceae. Chase 1994.

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