Paspalum palustre

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Basal innovations intravaginal. Culms 80–200 cm long; 2–5 -noded. Culm-nodes glabrous. Leaves without demarcation between sheath and blade. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2 mm long. Leaf-blades 20–40 cm long; 8–15 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 10–12; borne along a central axis; unilateral; 10–15 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 5–10 cm long. Rhachis angular.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels oblong.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate, or elliptic; dorsally compressed; plano-convex; obtuse; 3–3.5 mm long; 1.5 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; 3 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins distinct. Upper glume surface glabrous. 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; distinctly veined; glabrous; acute. Fertile lemma elliptic; 3–3.5 mm long; indurate; yellow; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: southern South America.

NOTES Paniceae. Barreto 1995.

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