Paspalum indecorum

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped loosely. Rhizomes short. Culms geniculately ascending; 20–45 cm long; 2 -noded. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2–3 mm long; pubescent on abaxial surface. Leaf-blades 8–14 cm long; 4–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pubescent; hairy on both sides. Leaf-blade margins tuberculate-ciliate. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes; terminal and axillary. Axillary inflorescences different from terminal (1 raceme).

Racemes 3–4; digitate, or borne along a central axis; unilateral; 4–8 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 1–3 cm long. Rhachis angular; 0.5 mm wide; glabrous on margins.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels oblong; puberulous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; plano-convex; 2–3 mm long; 0.8–1 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 apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 3 -veined; acute. Fertile lemma elliptic; 2–2.5 mm long; indurate; pallid; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil and southern South America.

NOTES Paniceae. Parodi 1995.

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