Paspalum mandiocanum

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms decumbent; 45–125 cm long; without nodal roots, or rooting from lower nodes. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Leaf-sheaths keeled. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blade base broadly rounded. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 10–30 cm long; 8–17 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade margins ciliate. Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 4–6; borne along a central axis; unilateral; 3–9 cm long. Rhachis angular; 1 mm wide. Spikelet packing 4 -rowed.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels oblong.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; plano-convex; 2–2.1 mm long; 1.5 mm wide; falling entire.

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

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5 -veined; acute. Fertile lemma elliptic; 2–2.1 mm long; indurate; pallid; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia. South America: Brazil and southern South America.

NOTES Paniceae. Fl Cat 1995.

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