Paspalum laeve

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 40–100 cm long. Leaf-sheaths keeled; glabrous on surface, or pilose. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1–3 mm long. Leaf-blades conduplicate; 5–30 cm long; 3–10 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pilose.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 3–5; borne along a central axis; unilateral; 4–10 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 4–10 cm long. Rhachis wingless; flattened. Spikelet packing abaxial; 2 -rowed.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 0.7–2 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate, or orbicular; dorsally compressed; 2.4–3.4 mm long; 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; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. 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; membranous; 5–7 -veined; with unevenly spaced veins (near margins); obtuse. Fertile lemma orbicular; 2.4–3.4 mm long; indurate; yellow, or light brown; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION North America: north-central USA, northeast USA, south-central USA, and southeast USA.

NOTES Paniceae. Gr Texas 1994.

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