Paspalum ligulare

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 50–120 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2.8–5 mm long. Leaf-blades flat, or conduplicate; 16–60 cm long; 1.5–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; glabrous, or pilose; sparsely hairy. Leaf-blade margins scabrous. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 2–7; borne along a central axis; unilateral; 6–16 cm long. Rhachis scaberulous on margins.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels oblong.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong, or obovate; dorsally compressed; plano-convex; 2–3 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; shorter than spikelet, or reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Upper glume elliptic; 0.75–1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 3 -veined; acute. Fertile lemma elliptic; 2–3 mm long; indurate; pallid; shiny; without keel. Lemma surface granulose. Lemma margins involute. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Mesoamericana and Brazil.

NOTES Paniceae. Gr Bahia 1995.

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