Paspalum paucifolium

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes short; scaly; hairy. Culms geniculately ascending, or decumbent; 40–70 cm long; 3 -noded. Culm-nodes glabrous, or pubescent. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths pilose. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 6–12 cm long; 3–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pilose.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 2–4; borne along a central axis; unilateral; 3–7 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 2–5 cm long. Rhachis narrowly winged; flattened; 1–1.5 mm wide; scabrous on margins. Spikelet packing 4 -rowed.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels oblong; unequal; 0.5 mm long, or 1–1.8 mm long; ciliate.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; plano-convex; acute; 3.5–5 mm long; 1.3–1.6 mm wide; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Upper glume lanceolate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume surface villous. Upper glume hairs 1.5 mm long. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret lanceolate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 3 -veined; glabrous, or puberulous; ciliate on margins; acute. Fertile lemma lanceolate; 3.3–3.8 mm long; indurate; pallid; shiny; 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.