Paspalum lanciflorum

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short. Culms 50–70 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1.5–2.2 mm long; brown. Leaf-blades 17–35 cm long; 7–10 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pilose; with tubercle-based hairs.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes. Peduncle 10 cm long; glabrous.

Racemes 2–6; digitate; unilateral; 6–8 cm long. Rhachis broadly winged; membranous; 5–7 mm wide; light-coloured. Spikelet packing abaxial; 2 -rowed.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; plano-convex; 6–7 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume surface with basal tufts of hair (3 tufts).

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret lanceolate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 3 -veined; puberulous; with tubercle-based hairs; tuberculate on margins; ciliate on margins; fringed below; bearing hairs 1.5 mm long. Fertile lemma lanceolate; 3.8–4.5 mm long; coriaceous; yellow; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

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

NOTES Paniceae. Fl Guiana 1995.

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