Paspalum multicaule

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Culms 12–40 cm long; 1 mm diam. Culm-internodes with small lumen; distally glabrous. Culm-nodes glabrous. Leaf-sheaths keeled; glabrous on surface, or pilose; with tubercle-based hairs; outer margin hairy. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.3–0.5 mm long; brown. Leaf-blades revolute; 4–12 cm long; 1.5–2.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade midrib prominent beneath. Leaf-blade surface pilose; hairy on both sides; with tubercle-based hairs.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes. Peduncle tipped by a glumaceous appendage.

Racemes 2; paired; unilateral; 1–4 cm long. Rhachis narrowly winged; 0.5–0.7 mm wide. Spikelet packing abaxial; 2 -rowed. Raceme-bases brief; pubescent.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets orbicular; dorsally compressed; 1.1–1.5 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 2–3 -veined. Upper glume primary vein absent, or distinct. Upper glume surface puberulous; with clavate hairs (globular).

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 2 -veined; without midvein; eciliate on margins, or ciliolate on margins (globular hairs). Fertile lemma ovate; 0.5–0.7 mm long; indurate; pallid; without keel. Lemma surface striate. Lemma margins involute. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.3 mm long; purple.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; orbicular; plano-convex; 0.8–1 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Mexico. South America: Mesoamericana, Caribbean, northern South America, western South America, Brazil, and southern South America.

NOTES Paniceae. Fl Costaric 1993.

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