Paspalum penicillatum

HABIT Annual. Culms decumbent; 7–20 cm long. Lateral branches ample. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 3–10 cm long; 5–12 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pubescent; moderately hairy.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 3–9; borne along a central axis; unilateral; 1–1.7 cm long. Rhachis deciduous from axis; narrowly winged; 1.7 mm wide; terminating in a barren extension; extension flattened.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels oblong.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic, or oblong; dorsally compressed; plano-convex; 1.7–1.9 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. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; sulcate; acute. Fertile lemma elliptic; 1.7–1.9 mm long; indurate; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: northern South America and western South America.

NOTES Paniceae. Gr Peru 1995.

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