Paspalum lentiginosum

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 75–140 cm long. Lateral branches sparse. Leaf-sheaths loose; longer than adjacent culm internode; glabrous on surface; outer margin hairy. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2–4 mm long. Leaf-blades 12–25 cm long; 8–14 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade margins scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 4–17; borne along a central axis; unilateral; 3–7 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 4.5–11 cm long. Rhachis wingless; angular. Raceme-bases linear; 2–8 mm long.

Spikelets in pairs. 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; 1.7–1.9 mm long; 1.4 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 surface pubescent; with tubercle-based hairs. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5 -veined; obtuse. Fertile lemma orbicular; 1.6–1.8 mm long; indurate; yellow; shiny; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea involute; indurate.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Mexico. South America: Mesoamericana.

NOTES Paniceae. Chase 1994.

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