Paspalum pauciciliatum

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Stolons present. Culms geniculately ascending; 50–100 cm long; 4–5 -noded; rooting from lower nodes. Culm-internodes 1.5–7 cm long. Leaf-sheaths pilose. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 3–4 mm long; brown. Leaf-blades 8–30 cm long; 7–9 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 4–10; borne along a central axis; straight; unilateral; 4–9 cm long. Rhachis angular; 0.8–1.2 mm wide; drab; glabrous on margins. Spikelet packing 4 -rowed.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels oblong.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; plano-convex; acute; 2.8–3.5 mm long; 1.5–1.8 mm wide; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume margins ciliolate. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 3 -veined; acute. Fertile lemma elliptic; 2–2.5 mm long; 1.5 mm wide; indurate; pallid; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil and southern South America.

NOTES Paniceae. Fl Entre Rios 1995.

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