Paspalum malmeanum

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 60–80 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades convolute; 15–45 cm long; 1–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pubescent. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 2; paired; unilateral; 7–12 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 0 cm long. Rhachis narrowly winged; 1–2 mm wide. Spikelet packing abaxial; 2 -rowed.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; dorsally compressed; plano-convex; 2 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Upper glume elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume surface pilose; hairy generally, or below; with tubercle-based hairs. Upper glume hairs white.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5 -veined; pubescent. Fertile lemma obovate; 1.5 mm long; indurate; shiny; without keel. Lemma surface smooth. Lemma margins involute. Palea involute; indurate.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: western South America and Brazil.

NOTES Paniceae. Gr Bolivia 1997.

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