Paspalum malacophyllum

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes short; scaly. Culms 70–200 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2 mm long. Leaf-blades 8–35 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pubescent; hairy on both sides.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes numerous; 10–45; borne along a central axis; unilateral; 2–10 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 10–30 cm long. Rhachis narrowly winged; angular.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic, or oblong; dorsally compressed; plano-convex; 1.8–2 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes both absent or obscure.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 3 -veined, or 5 -veined; obtuse. Fertile lemma elliptic; gibbous; 1.8–2 mm long; indurate; without keel; 7 -veined. Lemma surface papillose. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea involute; indurate.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China. Pacific: north-central. North America: Mexico. South America: western South America, Brazil, and southern South America.

NOTES Paniceae. Gr Texas 1993.

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