Paspalum parviflorum

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Culms 5–14 cm long; 0.2–0.5 mm diam. Culm-internodes with small lumen; purple; distally glabrous. Leaf-sheaths keeled; pilose; with tubercle-based hairs. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.1–0.2 mm long. Leaf-blades flat, or conduplicate; 0.5–1 mm wide. Leaf-blade midrib prominent beneath. Leaf-blade surface pilose; with tubercle-based hairs. Leaf-blade margins tuberculate-ciliate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1–3; single, or borne along a central axis; unilateral; 1–1.5 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 0–1 cm long. Rhachis wingless; angular; 0.3–0.4 mm wide. Spikelet packing abaxial; 2 -rowed.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels reduced to a stump; ciliate; hairy at tip.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic, or obovate; dorsally compressed; obtuse; 0.6–0.7 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; 2 -veined. Upper glume primary vein absent. Upper glume margins ciliolate. 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; 2 -veined; without midvein; with unevenly spaced veins (near margin); ciliolate on margins. Fertile lemma ovate; 0.6–0.7 mm long; indurate; yellow; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.3–0.5 mm long; orange.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Mesoamericana, Caribbean, northern South America, western South America, and Brazil.

NOTES Paniceae. Fl Costaric 1993.

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