Paspalum praecox

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes short. Culms 50–100 cm long. Leaf-sheaths keeled; glabrous on surface, or hirsute. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2–2.5 mm long. Leaf-blades 15–25 cm long; 3–7 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or hirsute; hairy on both sides.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 3–6; borne along a central axis; unilateral; 2–7 cm long. Rhachis wingless; flattened.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 0.2–1 mm long; puberulous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets orbicular, or obovate; dorsally compressed; 2.2–3.2 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Upper glume orbicular; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 3–5 -veined; with unevenly spaced veins (near margins). Fertile lemma ovate; 2.2–3.2 mm long; indurate; light brown; without keel. Lemma surface papillose. Lemma margins involute. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION North America: south-central USA, southeast USA, and Mexico.

NOTES Paniceae. Gr Texas 1994.

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