Paspalum nicorae

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes elongated. Butt sheaths sparsely hairy. Culms 20–70 cm long. Leaf-sheaths striately veined. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5–2.5 mm long. Leaf-blades conduplicate; 4–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pubescent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 2–5; borne along a central axis; unilateral; 1.5–6.5 cm long. Rhachis angular; 0.8 mm wide. Spikelet packing 2–4 -rowed.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels oblong; 0.5–1 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; plano-convex; 2.7–3.3 mm long; 1.6–1.8 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; 5 -veined. Upper glume surface pubescent. 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; wrinkled; acute. Fertile lemma obovate; 2.5–3 mm long; 1.4–1.7 mm wide; indurate; dark brown; shiny; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; obovoid; 1.8 mm long. Hilum elliptic.

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

NOTES Paniceae. Fl Entre Rios 1995.

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