Paspalum paniculatum

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 30–215 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2–3 mm long. Leaf-blades 9–50 cm long; 6–25 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes few, or numerous; 7–60; borne along a central axis; unilateral; 4–12 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 5–20(–30) cm long. Rhachis narrowly winged; angular; 0.5 mm wide. Spikelet packing regular; 4 -rowed.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets sessile and pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets orbicular; dorsally compressed; plano-convex; obtuse; 1.3–1.4 mm long; 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; dark brown; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume surface puberulous. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 3 -veined; puberulous; obtuse. Fertile lemma orbicular; gibbous; hemispherical; 1–1.2 mm long; indurate; pallid; without keel. Lemma surface striate. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea involute; indurate.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: west tropical, west-central tropical, east tropical, southern tropical, and western Indian ocean. Asia-temperate: eastern Asia. Asia-tropical: Malesia and Papuasia. Australasia: Australia. Pacific: southwestern, south-central, northwestern, and north-central. North America: Mexico. South America: Mesoamericana, Caribbean, northern South America, western South America, Brazil, and southern South America.

NOTES Paniceae. FTEA.

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