Paspalum mutabile

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms geniculately ascending, or decumbent; 20–40 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Culm-nodes black; pubescent. Lateral branches lacking, or sparse; arising from lower culm. Leaf-sheaths pilose; with tubercle-based hairs. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1 mm long; brown. Leaf-blades 5–15 cm long; 5–10 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pilose; sparsely hairy; hairy on both sides; with tubercle-based hairs.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 3–6; borne along a central axis; unilateral; 1.5–5.5 cm long. Rhachis wingless; angular; 1–1.5 mm wide. Spikelet packing abaxial; crowded.

Spikelets solitary, or in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets orbicular; dorsally compressed; plano-convex; obtuse; 2 mm long; 1.9 mm wide; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Upper glume orbicular; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; dark brown, or purple; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Upper glume surface puberulous. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; orbicular; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; dark brown, or purple; 3–5 -veined; obtuse. Fertile lemma orbicular; 2 mm long; indurate; yellow; without keel. Lemma surface striate. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea involute; indurate.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Mexico.

NOTES Paniceae. Chase 1994.

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