Paspalum maculosum

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 60–90 cm long. Leaves mostly basal. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 0.6 mm long. Leaf-blades 15–22 cm long; 1.5–2.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pubescent. Leaf-blade margins scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes. Peduncle 12 cm long; glabrous.

Racemes 2; paired; unilateral; 6–10 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 0 cm long. Rhachis 0.7–1 mm wide; scabrous on margins. Spikelet packing abaxial; 2 -rowed.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 1.3–1.7 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic, or orbicular; dorsally compressed; plano-convex; 2.4–2.6 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; light brown and purple (mottled); without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins obscure.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; light brown and purple (mottled); 3 -veined; obscurely veined. Fertile lemma elliptic; 2.3–2.5 mm long; indurate; pallid; without keel. Lemma surface granulose, or striate. Lemma margins involute. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

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

NOTES Paniceae. Fl Guiana 1995.

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