Paspalum orbiculatum

HABIT Perennial. Stolons present. Culms decumbent; 5–13 cm long; 0.5–1 mm diam.; rooting from lower nodes. Culm-internodes hollow; distally glabrous. Culm-nodes glabrous, or pubescent. Lateral branches ample. Leaf-sheaths outer margin hairy. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.1–0.2 mm long. Leaf-blade base broadly rounded; with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 1–6 cm long; 1–5 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 2–4; paired, or digitate; unilateral; 0.8–2.4 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 0.4–0.6 cm long. Rhachis narrowly winged; 0.5–0.7 mm wide. Spikelet packing abaxial; regular; 2 -rowed.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets orbicular; dorsally compressed; 0.9–1.2 mm long; 0.8–1 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; without keels; 2 -veined. Upper glume primary vein absent. 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; 2 -veined; without midvein; obtuse. Fertile lemma ovate; 0.9–1.2 mm long; indurate; red; 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; 0.7–0.8 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.