Paspalum pilgerianum

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes elongated. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 10–35 cm long. Lateral branches lacking. Leaves mostly basal. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 2–10 cm long; 2–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface puberulous. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 3–10; borne along a central axis; unilateral; 0.5–1 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 2–4 cm long. Rhachis narrowly winged; 1.5–2 mm wide; glabrous on surface. Spikelet packing abaxial; 2 -rowed.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels oblong.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong, or ovate; dorsally compressed; plano-convex; 2.1–2.4 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; acute. Fertile lemma elliptic; 2–2.2 mm long; indurate; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: western South America.

NOTES Paniceae. Gr Peru 1995.

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