GrassBase - The Online World Grass Flora

Descriptions

W.D. Clayton, M. Vorontsova, K.T. Harman & H. Williamson

© Copyright The Board of Trustees, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Paspalum longiaristatum

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Culms 15–36 cm long; 4–9 -noded. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Culm-nodes pubescent. Leaves cauline. Leaf-sheaths without keel; pilose; with tubercle-based hairs. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.7–1.6 mm long. Leaf-blades 4–8.2 cm long; 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade midrib prominent beneath. Leaf-blade surface hirsute; with tubercle-based hairs. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes. Peduncle glabrous, or pubescent above.

Racemes 1–2; single, or paired; arcuate; unilateral; 3–6.8 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 1.3–2 cm long; tip without extension, or filiform (0–3mm). Rhachis broadly winged; membranous; folded longitudinally to embrace spikelets; 4.5–6 mm wide; dark-coloured (purple); pilose on surface; ciliate on margins; terminating in a barren extension; extension flattened. Spikelet packing abaxial. Raceme-bases brief; pilose.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate, or elliptic; dorsally compressed; 1.8–2.2 mm long; 0.5 mm wide; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Upper glume elliptic; 1.8–2.2 mm long; 1 length of spikelet; hyaline; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume surface pubescent; hairy below. Upper glume margins ciliate. Upper glume awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 6–12.2 mm long.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; hyaline; 3 -veined; pubescent; hairy at base; ciliate on margins; awned. Awn of lower sterile floret 0.3–2 mm long. Fertile lemma elliptic; 1.5–1.8 mm long; coriaceous; pallid; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins obscure. Lemma margins involute; scaberulous. Lemma apex acute. Palea involute; coriaceous.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1.4–1.9 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; 1–1.2 mm long. Embryo 0.6–0.7 length of caryopsis. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil.

NOTES Paniceae. Davidse & Filg 1994.

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