Paspalum macranthecium

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Culms erect; 50 cm long. Culm-nodes glabrous. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.8 mm long; truncate. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 15–24 cm long; 6–18 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1–3; single, or paired, or borne along a central axis; unilateral; 4.9–6.6 cm long. Rhachis angular; 1.7 mm wide; scabrous on margins.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels ciliate.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets obovate; dorsally compressed; plano-convex; obtuse; 3.5–3.8 mm long; 2–2.1 mm wide; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Upper glume obovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume surface pubescent.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret obovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5 -veined; wrinkled; glabrous. Fertile lemma obovate; 3.5–3.8 mm long; 2–2.1 mm wide; indurate; dark brown; without keel. Lemma surface smooth. Lemma margins involute. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: western South America, Brazil, and southern South America.

NOTES Paniceae. =Paspalum reticulatum. Fl Sao Paulo 2001.

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