Paspalum molle

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms slender; 10–50 cm long. Culm-nodes glabrous. Lateral branches lacking. Leaves mostly basal. Leaf-sheaths keeled; glabrous on surface; outer margin hairy. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5 mm long. Leaf-blades 3–18 cm long; 2–7 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous; hairless throughout, or except near base. Leaf-blade margins ciliate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes (1–)2–3(–5); paired, or borne along a central axis; unilateral; 1.5–7 cm long. Rhachis wingless; angular. Spikelet packing lax.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 0.5–1 length of fertile spikelet.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; plano-convex; subacute; 1.7 mm long; 0.8 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; 3–5 -veined. Upper glume surface pubescent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 3–5 -veined; glabrous, or pubescent; acute. Fertile lemma ovate; 1.7 mm long; indurate; shiny; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea involute; indurate.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

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

NOTES Paniceae. Chase 1994.

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