Paspalum leptachne

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes short; woody. Culms erect; 130–150 cm long. Culm-internodes elliptical in section. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths loose; as wide as blade at the collar; outer margin hairy. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1.5–2 mm long; lacerate. Leaf-blades 20–30 cm long; 7–10 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface puberulous; hairy adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 8–9; borne along a central axis; ascending; unilateral; 5–13 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 15 cm long. Rhachis wingless; angular; 1.7–1.8 mm wide.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 3 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; plano-convex; subacute; 2.6 mm long; 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; hyaline; light brown; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins obscure. Upper glume surface puberulous. 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; hyaline; light brown; 5 -veined; obscurely veined; smooth, or wrinkled (near margins); obtuse. Fertile lemma elliptic; 2.6 mm long; indurate; dark brown; without keel. Lemma surface papillose. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea involute; indurate.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Mexico.

NOTES Paniceae. Chase 2001.

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