Paspalum melanospermum

HABIT Annual. Culms 30–50 cm long; rooting from lower nodes. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 4 mm long; brown. Leaf-blades 10–15 cm long; 6–8 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 2–3; borne along a central axis; unilateral; 2.5–4 cm long. Rhachis wingless; 1 mm wide. Spikelet packing abaxial.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic, or obovate; dorsally compressed; plano-convex; 2.2–2.3 mm long; 1.5–1.6 mm wide; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Upper glume elliptic; 0.9 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous. Fertile lemma elliptic; 2 mm long; indurate; dark brown; shiny; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

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

NOTES Paniceae. Fl Nov Gal 1994.

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