Paspalum latipes

HABIT Perennial. Culms erect; 75 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Culm-nodes glabrous, or pubescent. Leaf-sheaths longer than adjacent culm internode; keeled; glabrous on surface, or pilose; outer margin hairy. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2 mm long. Leaf-blades conduplicate; 15–30 cm long; 4–8 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface hispid; with tubercle-based hairs. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 3–4; digitate; unilateral; 9–10 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 1–2 cm long. Rhachis angular; 1–1.2 mm wide; scabrous on margins.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 2 mm long; scabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; plano-convex; 3.5–3.7 mm long; 2 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; 5 -veined. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; wrinkled; rough on flanks; obtuse. Fertile lemma elliptic; 3.5–3.7 mm long; indurate; dark brown; shiny; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea involute; indurate.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil.

NOTES Paniceae. Swallen 2002.

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