Paspalum nummularium

HABIT Perennial; mat forming. Rhizomes short. Culms geniculately ascending; 15–20 cm long. Leaf-sheaths longer than adjacent culm internode; keeled; glabrous on surface, or pubescent. Ligule a ciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 4–20 cm long; 5–8 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pubescent; hairy on both sides. Leaf-blade margins ciliate; hairy at base.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 2; paired; erect, or ascending; unilateral; 1.5–6 cm long. Rhachis narrowly winged; 0.8 mm wide. Spikelet packing abaxial; 2 -rowed.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets orbicular; dorsally compressed; obtuse; 1.6–1.7 mm long; 1.4–1.5 mm wide; falling entire.

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

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; orbicular; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 3 -veined. Fertile lemma orbicular; 1.4 mm long; indurate; pallid; without keel. Lemma surface striate. Lemma margins involute. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil.

NOTES Paniceae. Sendulsky 2001.

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