Paspalum petilum

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms rambling; 15–22 cm long; rooting from lower nodes. Culm-nodes bearded. Leaf-sheaths outer margin hairy. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1–1.3 mm long; acute. Leaf-blades 6–11 cm long; 3.5–4.5 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes; terminal and axillary. Peduncle 2–5 cm long.

Racemes 1; single; arcuate; unilateral; 1–2.2 cm long. Rhachis angular; 0.4–0.6 mm wide; smooth on margins. Spikelet packing 2 -rowed.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 0.4–0.7 mm long; scabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic, or obovate; dorsally compressed; plano-convex; acute; 1.4–1.7 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes two; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblate; 0.3–0.4 mm long; 0.2–0.3 length of spikelet. Lower glume margins ciliolate. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume elliptic; 0.9–1.3 mm long; 0.66–0.75 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume surface pubescent; hairy on veins. Upper glume margins ciliolate. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 3 -veined; ciliolate on margins. Fertile lemma elliptic; 1.3–1.6 mm long; indurate; yellow; without keel. Lemma surface granulose. Lemma margins involute. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: northern South America and Brazil.

NOTES Paniceae. Fl Guiana 1995.

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