Paspalum palmeri

HABIT Perennial. Culms 80–100 cm long. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 3–4 mm long; brown. Leaf-blade base broadly rounded. Leaf-blades 8–20 cm long; 7–10 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes; terminal, or terminal and axillary.

Racemes 1–3; single, or borne along a central axis; unilateral; (3.5–)8–14 cm long. Rhachis wingless; angular. Spikelet packing crowded.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic, or obovate; dorsally compressed; plano-convex; subacute; 2.8–3.2 mm long; 1.5–1.6 mm wide; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes one to two the lower present in some spikelets (the lower of the pair); reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 1.8–2.3 mm long; 0.5 length of spikelet. Lower glume margins ciliate. Upper glume elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels. Upper glume surface pubescent.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; pubescent. Fertile lemma elliptic; 2.5 mm long; indurate; pallid; without keel. Lemma surface papillose and striate. Lemma margins involute. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Mexico.

NOTES Paniceae. Fl Nov Gal 1994.

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