Paspalum polyphyllum

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Cataphylls evident. Rhizomes elongated. Basal innovations extravaginal. Culms erect; 40–65 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous, or pubescent. Culm-nodes glabrous. Lateral branches ample. Leaf-sheaths pilose. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1 mm long. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 3.5–7 cm long; 2–8 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade surface pilose; sparsely hairy; with tubercle-based hairs. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1–4; single, or paired, or digitate; unilateral; 4–7.5 cm long. Rhachis narrowly winged; flattened; 1.6 mm wide; pubescent on surface. Spikelet packing 2–4 -rowed.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels oblong; puberulous; tip discoid.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; dorsally compressed; turgidly plano-convex; 3.5 mm long; 1 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 primary vein pubescent (below). Upper glume margins tuberculate; ciliate. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret ovate; 0.9 length of spikelet; membranous; 3 -veined; ciliate on margins; acute. Fertile lemma elliptic; 2.8 mm long; indurate; without keel. Lemma surface puberulous; hairy in the middle. Lemma margins involute. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; obovoid. Embryo 0.5 length of caryopsis. Hilum elliptic.

DISTRIBUTION South America: northern South America, western South America, Brazil, and southern South America.

NOTES Paniceae. Send & Burm 1995.

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