Paspalum pallidum

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes elongated. Culms decumbent; 20–50 cm long. Culm-nodes glabrous. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 4–14 cm long; 5–8 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface puberulous. Leaf-blade margins ciliate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 5–17; borne along a central axis; unilateral; 2–3.5 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 2–7 cm long. Rhachis narrowly winged; 2.3–2.5 mm wide; glabrous on surface. Spikelet packing abaxial; 2 -rowed.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels oblong.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic, or oblong; dorsally compressed; plano-convex; 2.7–3 mm long; 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. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; acute. Fertile lemma elliptic; 2.7–3 mm long; indurate; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: western South America.

NOTES Paniceae. Gr Peru 1995.

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